[0:14] >> Welcome

[0:15] to the city of St. Petersburg

[0:18] City Council meeting and your

[0:21] elected

[0:22] officials our mayor Ken Welch.

[0:25] >> District one Council chair.

[0:28] Hopefully Curtis. District 2

[0:31] Brendan Barber. Is to 3.

[0:33] My carving district

[0:36] 4 Council vice chair, Liz said

[0:39] Hannah with us District 5.

[0:42] Deborah take Sanders. District

[0:44] 6 Gina Driscoll a district 7

[0:48] warri Givens junior. And

[0:51] district day Richie Floyd.

[0:58] >> Noon everybody welcome to

[0:59] the OCTOBER night 2025 City

[1:00] Council meeting if we can do

[1:03] roll call please clerk and

[1:06] heard here party here.

[1:09] What's your if Sanders here

[1:12] fiscal year. Given this year.

[1:15] Today we will have our

[1:17] indication given by pastor

[1:19] Louis Murphy senior from Mount

[1:19] Zion progressive missionary

[1:21] Baptist Church.

[1:22] Followed by a moment of

[1:23] silence, then please remain

[1:26] standing for the pledge of

[1:29] allegiance.

[1:39] >> Heavenly father.

[1:39] Create a tool of the heavens

[1:42] and the Earth. Create of all

[1:45] mankind.

[1:49] Law you on awesome GOD.

[1:52] It got uoi healer.

[1:54] We store

[1:54] you the Prince of peace and

[1:57] we're just so grateful and

[2:00] thankful. That we

[2:03] can be College of children.

[2:05] And will we thank you for

[2:07] the men and women who have put

[2:09] they hands to the plow to serve

[2:12] community. Blessed to City

[2:13] Council. Bless our mayor.

[2:14] We thank you for the men and

[2:17] women who are laboring in your

[2:20] Vineyard as we celebrate

[2:22] clergyman but

[2:25] we need you not only in a city.

[2:28] We need to win a state in a

[2:31] nation. We know

[2:33] that you all love help us to

[2:34] share that love with one

[2:38] another in your holy name I

[2:41] pray, and then.

[2:42] >> Excuse me there is no

[2:44] moments also please join me in

[2:44] the pledge of allegiance.

[2:47] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[2:53] of the United States of America

[2:57] I'm the guy indivisible

[3:00] if the Justice for all.

[3:05] Thank you please be seated.

[3:06] Hasta Murphy that's what he's

[3:06] talking about I needed it.

[3:07] Thank you. Okay cast members we

[3:08] have an agenda in front of us,

[3:11] I'll entertain a motion for

[3:12] approval.

[3:13] Move back in. We have a motion

[3:14] a second season or the council

[3:14] members wishing to speak clerk

[3:17] could you please over machine

[3:20] for voting.

[3:22] Council members present your

[3:23] votes. Seeing is all present

[3:23] council members voted clerk

[3:26] police telling announce the

[3:29] vote.

[3:34] >> Sure the motion to approve

[3:37] the agenda passes unanimously,

[3:37] okay.

[3:40] We don't have a consent agenda

[3:41] today. So we'll move into

[3:42] open form clerk could you

[3:42] please read the rules.

[3:43] If you wish to address City

[3:44] Council and subjects other than

[3:44] public hearing. Rick was Ida

[3:46] digital items listed on the

[3:46] agenda please sign up with the

[3:48] clerk. Only the individuals

[3:49] wishing to speak they send it

[3:52] open sheet. Only city residents

[3:53] prop

[3:56] owners of the property. His

[3:59] owners of the city where the

[4:00] employees MAY speak all

[4:00] issues discussed and open form

[4:02] must be limited to issues

[4:05] related to the city of Saint

[4:06] Peter's Rick government.

[4:09] If you speak into it tonight

[4:09] I'm on the agenda.

[4:12] You mainly speak once during

[4:12] the open form when the time

[4:15] comes up on the agenda in order

[4:16] to provide an opportunity

[4:19] for all citizens to address

[4:19] Council. Each individual be

[4:21] given 3 minutes to speak and

[4:22] after which the microphone will

[4:26] be muted. If you wish to

[4:26] address City Council through

[4:29] the zoom meeting. If you must

[4:30] use the raise hand feature

[4:30] button in the zoom app or

[4:32] interest are 9 on your phone at

[4:35] the time to adjust to it is

[4:39] addressed when it is your turn

[4:39] to speak, you'll be a

[4:40] new did and asked us take your

[4:41] name and address. But the

[4:41] conclusion of your comments

[4:44] when you have reached a 3

[4:45] minute time limit. You will be

[4:48] muted. I'll raise his will be

[4:51] lowered after each agenda item

[4:51] regardless of the method

[4:54] participation used normal rules

[4:55] apply including the 3 minute

[4:57] timely comments. The

[4:58] requirement that any

[5:01] presentation materials must be

[5:02] submitted in advance of the

[5:04] meeting and the rules of

[5:05] decorum it's like public

[5:08] comment is disrupted violation

[5:08] of the rules of

[5:09] decorum the chair is authorized

[5:11] to accept public comments by

[5:12] all means including by email

[5:13] Hooley and MISTER Chair we do

[5:16] have a speed okay. Thank you

[5:19] very much.

[5:25] DR. Perry Washington.

[5:26] He's come to the podium state

[5:27] their name and address for the

[5:29] record. We'll have 3 minutes to

[5:33] dress Council.

[5:48] >> My name is Harry g

[5:52] Washington. I will not give my

[5:55] address the cut that

[5:58] that that Cain

[5:59] I will not be assassinated.

[6:01] I'd say it did many times do we

[6:04] have

[6:07] to goal with it again.

[6:08] Please give your cross streets

[6:08] DR. Washpost first re in mine.

[6:10] There is no for Street and

[6:14] main.

[6:17] Street in central.

[6:23] Okay proceed. DR. Washington.

[6:30] I would risk.

[6:34] For planning. Concrete

[6:34] in my all y'all.

[6:35] >> You can mark a moment not

[6:35] only in.

[6:36] To get to the Manning concrete

[6:37] in my own yard. Biden saying

[6:38] Peter Bernard Foley's the

[6:42] caught that didn't want that

[6:44] count next to be panic. Fit

[6:46] fans in my yard, he told up my

[6:48] fan, what that permeates

[6:51] watching. I asked him to stop

[6:54] it. They say it

[7:02] we don't know that to you.

[7:02] I'll shoot DR. Washington

[7:03] please address us into the

[7:05] microphone and not the audience

[7:06] thank you.

[7:06] >> When I last 7 months.

[7:10] I didn't telling everybody and

[7:13] then Miami.

[7:16] >> I want to go to trial.

[7:19] I had 3 attorney that

[7:22] interview. They wanted me to be

[7:25] guilty. So what.

[7:31] I came and told you all because

[7:35] you have a pseudo.

[7:38] Dead no thank

[7:44] They are left to do.

[7:54] And put them in time would know

[7:57] it and people in the town.

[8:03] When it did have a row.

[8:06] dead people.

[8:16] You can send about this.

[8:19] That building downtown.

[8:24] You have a good thing about the

[8:27] bodies.

[8:36] I go to

[8:39] everybody and

[8:49] Look at home and around the

[8:52] state.

[8:55] >> Thank you DR. Washington

[8:56] anymore, speakers, former

[8:59] speakers. Okay we're going to

[9:02] move on from open forum.

[9:03] And we're going to move

[9:04] into awards and presentations

[9:06] and we're going to start with d

[9:07] one our student ambassador

[9:08] program student presentation on

[9:09] the turn it over to David

[9:11] Thompson who's going to

[9:15] introduce the item.

[9:21] David welcome.

[9:23] Good afternoon council members.

[9:23] I am very. I am very pleased to

[9:27] welcome our student ambassadors

[9:27] to

[9:28] to for their presentations as

[9:31] many of our council members

[9:34] knocks I think even our

[9:37] new councilmember did this

[9:38] himself.

[9:38] We.

[9:38] Sponsor 3 students to go to

[9:41] talk to my to our sister city

[9:42] in Japan and as part of

[9:44] sponsorship they agreed to a

[9:45] presentation for you all to

[9:46] talk about their experience.

[9:48] What they learned and how they

[9:51] were able to represent the city

[9:52] so gives me great pleasure

[9:53] to introduce our students

[9:55] Rachel from Osceola fundamental

[9:58] high school Jared Jackson from

[9:59] the Lakewood

[10:00] high school I know mayor is

[10:00] listening and Jada from St.

[10:02] Petersburg collision but all

[10:02] proud to represent St.

[10:06] Petersburg small turnover.

[10:09] Thank you welcome.

[10:15] Thank Still

[10:18] I'm Jada

[10:24] and I'm Jared.

[10:25] Of the caucus in Japan. So I

[10:26] want to start by saying thank

[10:28] you to the city and dispense

[10:29] for providing us with such a

[10:30] life-changing opportunity.

[10:32] Today I want to talk about

[10:32] family life while abroad

[10:33] because it was most impactful

[10:36] part of my trip. My family was

[10:38] solid.

[10:41] I wanted to highlight the

[10:42] dinners we shared because the

[10:42] depth they added to my

[10:44] experience, a dinner every

[10:44] night my host moment Cook

[10:46] dinner, and we'd all sit around

[10:46] the table and even after dinner

[10:49] is finished and the place for

[10:50] put away. We sit around the

[10:50] table and talk for hours.

[10:51] It was during these

[10:53] conversations that I got closer

[10:54] than I ever could imagine with

[10:55] the family in such a short

[10:58] amount of time and it's on my

[10:59] greatest honors that

[10:59] even miles away, I know

[11:00] someone's American daughter.

[11:01] On the rare occasions we did it

[11:03] out I was lucky enough to try

[11:06] conveyor belt sushi and the

[11:07] picture you can see and it just

[11:08] as fun as it looks on mine.

[11:11] I open only aqui featured above

[11:11] and even on the

[11:12] last night I cooked chicken

[11:13] parm and let's just say my host

[11:15] family was very shocked by the

[11:19] amount of cheese in the dish.

[11:20] Next I want to talk

[11:21] about excursions that my host

[11:22] family took me on. As you can

[11:25] see there I went to a high

[11:26] school

[11:26] baseball game which their

[11:27] stadiums are insane and any

[11:31] time our team which was high

[11:31] school was on the field you are

[11:32] standing and moving and doing

[11:35] these chairs and I just think

[11:35] that the energy we need

[11:37] to bring to my high school

[11:40] football games. Next is too of

[11:40] the jury took some beautiful

[11:42] photos in the reflection pool,

[11:44] and the future photos me and my

[11:46] host family. We also did candy

[11:47] making with jade and her host

[11:48] family and friends and we made

[11:49] was on bond which is a special

[11:52] type of sugar that was crafted

[11:52] by

[11:53] the handmade wooden tools were

[11:54] holding in the picture. We even

[11:56] had a fluffy pancake breakfast

[11:56] because my family knew that

[11:58] that is my favorite meal and

[11:59] last through into a bonsai

[12:02] nursery which had the trees

[12:03] that have been growing for

[12:04] years and they also the hefty

[12:06] price tag. But I bought my a

[12:07] little bonsai tree and which is

[12:08] seeing the picture and we

[12:09] decided to name it. Peter

[12:10] after St. Petersburg to

[12:10] represent the strong bond we as

[12:13] a family and the 2 cities have

[12:16] forms.

[12:21] >> So next I'll be talking

[12:23] about cultural differences that

[12:24] I noticed while in Japan, but

[12:27] for someone to acknowledge that

[12:29] these are pictures of

[12:30] me and my host family that I

[12:31] stayed with so nearly every

[12:32] house in Japan. There's a

[12:33] designated room at the entrance

[12:35] of the home where you remove

[12:35] your shoes before you enter the

[12:38] main part of the home and they

[12:39] MAY offer slippers

[12:40] to guess or you can just wear

[12:41] socks. My host family's home

[12:44] there was a smaller version of

[12:45] this room on the side

[12:47] entrance and then we removed

[12:48] our shoes. Coming from outside

[12:50] from the back yard. The second

[12:50] thing I noticed was that Japan

[12:54] is a very welcoming culture and

[12:54] they are

[12:58] very big on giving gifts Jared

[12:58] Leto and

[12:59] I had disappeared from our host

[12:59] family will once we arrived.

[13:02] I was able to meet 2 of my host

[13:03] sisters friends and they had

[13:05] gets prepared to give me one of

[13:07] which was a lot of Japanese

[13:07] snacks and I definitely did not

[13:10] expect to receive the mountains

[13:11] gets the I did receive.

[13:15] So the next and I'll be talking

[13:18] about school and sports day.

[13:19] Every year schools and

[13:20] to participate in the sport

[13:21] stand. We did sports. Stay with

[13:23] the Daiichi high School and the

[13:24] talk of months the city

[13:26] gym where we played volleyball.

[13:27] But it was a very popular sport

[13:28] in Japan and there were a whole

[13:31] bunch of different tournaments

[13:33] with in the talk about the city

[13:34] gym. The next day we went to

[13:36] die too high school to

[13:37] experience a full day of school

[13:40] in Japan in English class Jared

[13:41] written

[13:42] I did a presentation about St.

[13:44] Petersburg didn't I had pe and

[13:45] played volleyball in Dodge ball

[13:48] in Japanese Dodge ball is very

[13:50] different from the American

[13:51] Dodge ball. And at the end of

[13:53] the day the students have a

[13:54] cleaning period where they

[13:55] clean the classrooms, I also

[13:57] saw some of the students clean

[13:58] the

[13:58] stairs hauling even the

[14:01] bathrooms and after the

[14:01] cleaning period. They have

[14:02] after-school activities were

[14:03] I'm a leather bracelets and

[14:06] Jared and Rachel participated

[14:09] in can do.

[14:12] And I will.

[14:18] And I will be talking about

[14:18] food.

[14:22] If anyone knows me I'm a very

[14:22] big foodie and the food

[14:23] in talk about who is certainly

[14:24] something to talk about.

[14:26] The very top is sort of temper

[14:29] and beef cut let that we had at

[14:32] as we were making soba noodles

[14:33] at a at a making someone else.

[14:36] And the top right is a tune up

[14:39] cupcake that Rachel has that

[14:41] region ahead as we were hiking

[14:42] is yes to a mountain. Below

[14:42] that is the sort of Japanese

[14:46] cooking that jada's host family

[14:47] made for. Well that is the

[14:49] years, the specialty of the

[14:50] neighboring city that me and my

[14:51] host family went to go see one

[14:55] of the 13 remaining wouldn't

[14:56] castles in Japan and their

[14:57] specialty bone-in chicken to

[14:59] the left is that me and my

[15:03] husband other can we made

[15:03] together

[15:06] next to that is the charge to

[15:08] done that but that me and my

[15:08] husband can went to a ramen

[15:09] restaurant to enjoy. Next is

[15:12] the coffee dealing with ice

[15:13] cream and a shrimpton for a new

[15:16] Guinea that both me and my host

[15:16] family went

[15:18] to conveyor belt sushi which

[15:21] again is as just as fun as the

[15:22] videos and pictures make it up

[15:24] to me and to the left is to

[15:25] pour a soda and a bowl of green

[15:25] onions that I very much enjoyed

[15:28] after the sports day at school.

[15:31] Not only is food important but

[15:33] eating dinner with the host

[15:35] family in our families and

[15:37] dinner in it. In general are

[15:38] important and the top right is

[15:41] me and my house by their Ken

[15:42] cooking together below that is

[15:45] me and my host family enjoying

[15:47] Japanese barbecue and open to

[15:49] key together as one to the left

[15:50] is me my host further can and

[15:52] one of his friends enjoying

[15:53] ramen at one of his friends

[15:55] ramen shops and above that is

[15:56] me and my host brother who came

[15:59] over here trying to do enjoying

[16:00] the bone of a stake.

[16:02] Eating dinner with a host

[16:03] family was not only way to

[16:04] enjoy each other's company, but

[16:06] also a way to get to know each

[16:09] other better.

[16:15] >> So along with our personal

[16:15] experiences. We also want to

[16:18] share all the amazing things

[16:19] that the city

[16:20] of talk about who prepared for

[16:22] us. So this slide is all about

[16:23] mountains gardens and more and

[16:24] more the natural things we did.

[16:27] And the top left you can see

[16:28] return garden, which

[16:29] is a Japanese national garden

[16:30] were we had a authentic

[16:31] experience in a beautiful tee

[16:33] also looked out into the lake

[16:36] and then you can also see a

[16:37] very large bonsai tree sitting

[16:40] atop a rock which are guy

[16:41] described as a fluttering

[16:41] crane, a sitting on the back of

[16:43] a turtle. Our guide was also

[16:44] one of my favorites and he was

[16:45] kind enough to let us practice

[16:48] or Japanese introductions on

[16:48] him

[16:50] and give us a stamp of

[16:51] approval. And the 3rd vote over

[16:52] its are and you can see

[16:53] probably the best view from the

[16:54] garden and even though is rain

[16:56] on the day when it was just as

[16:57] beautiful as it would have been

[16:59] on a sunny day. On the right

[16:59] you can see magazine the island

[17:02] and this is a special Island

[17:05] that holds the tale of moment

[17:06] or peach boy who led the

[17:07] leftist family to go fight

[17:07] demons but he beats the demons

[17:09] in a battle ultimately wins

[17:10] said that maybe as the island

[17:13] motor fall on which is why it

[17:13] is also known as Devon Island.

[17:16] It is home to the only guy

[17:17] schmuck cavern which the

[17:18] opening of it can be seen

[17:21] above. We also want to talk

[17:22] about to Castle. We also

[17:24] received a tour inside the

[17:25] Castle. And lots of the council

[17:26] structure been rebuilt or

[17:27] restored such as the tower

[17:29] that's a guard tower you can

[17:30] see far back in the photo and

[17:30] that's also a photo of the

[17:33] garden which was very

[17:36] beautiful.

[17:42] >> When we were spending time

[17:42] with her host family we

[17:43] participated in a city of tents

[17:44] in the middle is we don't

[17:46] making where me Rachel nj to

[17:47] all got to have our hand at

[17:49] making good on. Although we did

[17:51] not make good food on it was

[17:54] still a lot of fun, giving it

[17:55] our best and making wooden

[17:58] to the theme of ymca one of the

[17:59] first things that we did was

[18:00] the prefecture Museum where

[18:02] Rachel in jeddah got to try on

[18:05] a traditional 12 later Japanese

[18:06] kimono and I got to

[18:06] try on a traditional Japanese

[18:07] samurai helmet and also

[18:08] pictured is the 2 swords that

[18:10] me and Rachel fought each other

[18:13] with.

[18:16] Along with that we also got to

[18:17] play with dep Japanese toys

[18:17] and a traditional Japanese

[18:18] instrument. And that's a very

[18:20] right is the city dinner where

[18:21] we got to present our

[18:22] presentations on Rachel's

[18:25] natures and preserves jada's

[18:29] downtown and by for that.

[18:30] After

[18:31] giving up presentations to the

[18:32] City Council and our host

[18:34] families we got to enjoy a

[18:37] dinner hosted by by the City

[18:37] Council. 2 each

[18:41] with the City Council and our

[18:44] host families.

[18:47] >> And lastly I'll be talking

[18:48] about our experience hosting

[18:49] the Japanese students. Mitchell

[18:51] had the same student but she

[18:54] went to go visit saawan endured

[18:55] and I had

[18:56] 2 different students, and high

[18:57] So we went to the Duncan

[19:00] maclean glassblowing where we

[19:01] got to make paper weight

[19:02] and we got to design places.

[19:02] Well.

[19:05] And we were also able to go see

[19:08] the glass exhibit, I was there.

[19:09] We also went to the Dali Museum

[19:10] which the students definitely

[19:12] loved and they were very

[19:13] interested in seeing all the

[19:15] artwork that was there. We also

[19:17] are able to go to Saint Pete

[19:18] Beach in the evening where we

[19:21] got to eat plan the water and

[19:22] play in the sand and we also

[19:24] got to watch the sunset.

[19:26] We also went to Busch gardens

[19:27] and had a nice movie night at

[19:30] Beatles House and a barbecue

[19:34] night at heriot House.

[19:46] >> goes I've got.

[19:48] >> Jeff I MAY just why quick

[19:49] and for that you guys ask any

[19:50] questions just want to

[19:50] acknowledge that this really is

[19:53] a community effort and a labor

[19:54] of love for the city and want

[19:57] to thank Council for allocating

[19:57] the

[19:58] funds to allow the students to

[19:59] go suspense and their parents

[20:02] who do all the work to get them

[20:02] there in the trust that place

[20:05] in the city in sending their

[20:06] students for

[20:07] 14 days across the other side

[20:08] of the world and also to the

[20:09] community partners you heard

[20:13] some of the places they went to

[20:14] Dolly

[20:15] Duncan McClellan studio, some

[20:16] of those things are given by

[20:16] these places because they

[20:19] believe in the mission of the

[20:21] program, some of them we do pay

[20:22] for and I do want to emphasize

[20:25] to any student who is listening

[20:26] that if you the that this

[20:27] presentation was interesting to

[20:30] you do not let price be a

[20:31] factor. The city pays for the

[20:34] travel the lodging even if your

[20:35] home is not one that you

[20:36] might want to buy the family

[20:38] into we have former host

[20:41] families say I want another

[20:41] child to experience this I

[20:43] would be happy to be the House

[20:47] that that person stays in so

[20:47] that child can go to talk him

[20:48] out so in experiences so we

[20:49] really do want. All of our

[20:49] residents to feel like this is

[20:52] something that's accessible to

[20:55] them.

[20:57] Congratulations what at what an

[21:00] absolutely phenomenal

[21:01] presentation. So here's my

[21:03] here's my question for you with

[21:06] everything that you got see

[21:06] over there and everything

[21:07] experienced over there.

[21:08] Give me something that you

[21:08] brought back the you would like

[21:10] to incorporate into your

[21:10] family, what about that culture

[21:11] just moved you enough be

[21:14] brought back your parents and

[21:17] said we need to do this.

[21:21] >> And out say I guess the

[21:23] schools how they have cleaning

[21:26] period at the end it makes it a

[21:26] lot easier and it

[21:27] teaches them like a nice like I

[21:28] guess it's they have lots of

[21:29] discipline in them so I think

[21:31] it would be nice for us to like

[21:34] book okay don't want to clean

[21:37] the school.

[21:44] >> It's a it's a good concept I

[21:44] think it's really good that

[21:45] they do that.

[21:46] For me I definitely think that

[21:47] the sitting down the dinner

[21:48] table something in my family

[21:51] need to do more maybe less and

[21:53] from the tv Trez of so that was

[21:53] like honestly is the time to

[21:54] reflect and talk to your family

[21:55] members. I think that's

[21:58] something I want to instill in

[21:59] my family more in so it's a it

[22:00] was a great moments actually

[22:00] get to know them even though

[22:03] you know staying with strangers

[22:06] so.

[22:10] >> I am what I am with Rachel

[22:11] in that spending more time with

[22:11] family talking with each other

[22:13] and. Experiment with new types

[22:15] of cooking definitely. Thank

[22:16] you to the 3 of you for

[22:17] representing Saint Pete we

[22:19] greatly appreciate it. Thank

[22:20] you chair letting us

[22:22] councilmember get in. Thank you

[22:25] Rachel thank you Jerry thank

[22:28] you Jada for

[22:28] representing St. Petersburg so

[22:29] well.

[22:31] I have no regrets j to reading

[22:32] your letter recommendation

[22:35] because I think you shine so

[22:35] brightly

[22:36] you represent the sunshine to

[22:37] the so well, you know one of

[22:39] the things that I remember when

[22:39] I went to represent the city

[22:41] of St. Petersburg as a student

[22:44] ambassador to talk him out to

[22:44] 2009

[22:45] was the similarities. You all

[22:48] highlighted a lot of the

[22:51] differences that we have with

[22:52] our.

[22:54] Here's overseas in Japan.

[22:54] But while you were there did

[22:55] you notice any similarities

[22:57] between you and your peers, you

[22:59] know in a world that seeks to

[23:01] divide us based on Billy's race

[23:02] nationalities, religious

[23:03] origin. Did you notice that you

[23:04] had anything in common with

[23:07] those he went to school with

[23:10] and who you live with.

[23:17] >> I think because I feel like

[23:17] Japan's up a very smart country

[23:20] and you know how an American

[23:21] the students that

[23:22] don't like certain subjects.

[23:22] I was able to speak to a few

[23:25] students in this so just that

[23:26] they don't

[23:28] like either think one of them

[23:29] was it was like ancient

[23:30] Japanese they did not like

[23:33] learning and writing about the

[23:36] new like the old it's like a

[23:36] are like.

[23:37] Unlike Shakespearean like old

[23:38] English but it's there like all

[23:40] Japanese and they do not like

[23:43] that class.

[23:47] I think that's like some way

[23:51] to like within the youth there.

[23:51] >> I can think of you thank you

[23:53] for that Jay to appreciate it.

[23:53] Another thing I've noticed what

[23:54] we're inching our interests my

[23:57] host brother in Japan was

[23:57] interested in computers and

[23:58] cooking.

[23:59] I too am interested in

[24:02] computers and cooking so a lot

[24:02] of our interests are very

[24:03] similar same thing with the

[24:06] kids at school were interested

[24:07] in various hobbies or subjects

[24:10] sports. All of us had were very

[24:14] similar in that regard.

[24:17] >> I'm kind of 2 things one is

[24:19] deeper ones, not these.

[24:20] So in the first So like one

[24:23] thing is you still communicate

[24:23] with your eyes a

[24:24] lot like something would happen

[24:24] means all of that. Like you

[24:27] know when they look at each

[24:28] other and like it's like you

[24:29] can see you can talk without

[24:32] speaking. But on a goof your

[24:33] level the

[24:33] high school kids still love to

[24:34] gas up there like to have a

[24:35] boyfriend. How many dogs you

[24:35] have to measure something and

[24:36] they want everything like they

[24:40] were just like asking a million

[24:43] teenage questions, I'll

[24:47] just say that the same in that

[24:47] way.

[24:48] Thank you for sharing that and

[24:48] you just remind us that there's

[24:49] more that unites us than what

[24:51] divides us. And that's what I

[24:51] learned when I went overseas

[24:52] we had very fact bin and it was

[24:54] very popular and so my hose

[24:55] brother and I we bonded over

[24:57] Anna Mae and as a matter of

[24:58] fact we still maintain contact

[25:01] to this day so I encourage you

[25:01] to maintain those bonds

[25:02] that you've established with

[25:05] those families overseas and

[25:06] then lastly just remember

[25:07] wherever you go from here these

[25:10] international relations that

[25:11] you farm,

[25:12] those are transferable skills.

[25:14] So whether you decide to go in

[25:16] study political science

[25:16] Communications international

[25:17] relations whatever it MAY be

[25:19] just know that the training

[25:20] guard ground started right here

[25:21] for you in St. Petersburg so if

[25:22] there's anything that we can do

[25:23] to support in your future

[25:24] endeavors. You have a City

[25:25] Council that back she said

[25:29] thank you so much I got to

[25:32] thank you.

[25:40] >> Well I just before we move

[25:41] just want to quickly. Thank.

[25:42] >> Steps and the city and my

[25:43] colleagues for the continued

[25:46] investment in our youth and

[25:47] then

[25:48] 2 or 3 students.

[25:50] I just I'm always blown away by

[25:51] the presentations that come

[25:54] back to Council and just so

[25:54] proud of the 3 of

[25:57] you and thankful for the 3 of

[25:58] you and and

[25:59] very excited to see the future.

[26:01] For all of you and so thanks

[26:02] for everything you do thanks

[26:04] for representing us in excited

[26:07] to see what's

[26:07] next for you guys, thanks so

[26:08] much.

[26:08] Okay we're going to move on the

[26:10] deed to our clergy appreciation

[26:13] month proclamation and for this

[26:17] we're joined by our

[26:20] mayor mayor County Welch.

[26:23] Thank you MISTER CHAIRMAN and

[26:23] Council.

[26:24] The safety team and all members

[26:24] of our community and students

[26:25] you'll make us proud. I'm

[26:26] honored to present the

[26:27] proclamation for

[26:28] clergy appreciation month.

[26:28] To those in the faith

[26:31] community, the importance of

[26:32] one's

[26:32] faith and its impact on our

[26:35] personal growth and our ability

[26:35] to

[26:36] manage life challenges cannot

[26:39] be overstated close your key

[26:41] partners in building a

[26:42] caring uplifting community.

[26:42] I like to invite in a

[26:45] nomination, a ministerial

[26:46] alliance of Florida

[26:47] PRESIDENT Reverend j c

[26:47] Pritchett and other us team

[26:48] members of the clergy to please

[26:54] join me in voting don't come up

[27:09] Afternoon APRIL. Well it.

[27:14] Thank you all for your

[27:15] leadership.

[27:17] The proclamation reads whereas

[27:20] the city of St. Petersburg

[27:21] includes a thriving faith

[27:23] community led by faith leaders.

[27:25] His contributions help ensure a

[27:28] better life for residents and

[27:29] for future generations and were

[27:31] asked for the faith community

[27:32] faith is a guiding light in

[27:35] every season. Both in times of

[27:36] uncertainty

[27:36] and challenge and in times of

[27:37] prosperity. And whereas our

[27:40] clergy teach guide minister and

[27:43] help us.

[27:47] Build a compassionate and

[27:48] caring community exemplifying

[27:50] respect and love for others

[27:52] despite our differences and our

[27:55] believes and whereas our clergy

[27:56] dedicate their lives to

[27:57] supporting their congregations

[27:58] investing their time and

[27:59] energies to help ensure their

[28:01] congregations can be purposeful

[28:05] purposeful

[28:06] lives that are comforted.

[28:08] In times of adversity and

[28:11] whereas the month of OCTOBER

[28:12] has been recognized worldwide

[28:14] as clergy appreciation month.

[28:15] Our city is proud to celebrate

[28:16] our diverse faith community.

[28:19] And those leaders who are

[28:20] important in our

[28:21] lives and communities across

[28:22] our city. Now therefore I to

[28:24] wilt mayor of the city of St.

[28:27] Petersburg Florida do hereby

[28:30] proclaim Oct. 20 25

[28:31] as clergy

[28:31] appreciation month in St.

[28:34] Petersburg and urge all

[28:35] citizens to observe

[28:37] this month with appropriate

[28:38] activities. Celebrations and

[28:39] acknowledgements that honor the

[28:41] compassion dedication and

[28:43] energy faith leaders in our

[28:46] city. Thank you all for your

[28:49] great work appreciating them.

[28:55] Thank you

[28:56] mayor and Council.

[28:59] 2, 2, things I want to lift up

[29:00] this is year 100 for the inner

[29:03] denomination minister light so

[29:04] we're celebrating a 100 years

[29:06] so we are grateful for this

[29:07] recognition secondly I want to

[29:08] introduce a new pastor to our

[29:10] city. The new past it who's

[29:10] been here too much at first

[29:13] Presbyterian Robert Galloway

[29:14] has joined us Robert and then

[29:15] especially for us to have one

[29:18] of our power in 2 years in

[29:19] ministry

[29:20] with us today. Bishop players

[29:23] Pennington she's going to give

[29:26] our comments for our clergy.

[29:35] >> Good morning good afternoon.

[29:36] This is a day

[29:39] that the Lord has made. Let us

[29:42] rejoice and be glad in it.

[29:45] This is such and honor

[29:48] and week Sept

[29:51] with gratitude and humility

[29:52] to carry on the work. That got

[29:53] his assigned us to do. Thank

[29:56] you so much for this

[29:59] recognition.

[30:10] >> Pennington so good to see

[30:14] you as always into each of you

[30:15] thank you so

[30:16] much welcome past Galloway my

[30:19] good friend fits Connor over in

[30:20] Tampa passes that first

[30:20] Presbyterian so we welcome you,

[30:22] I'm so happy to have each of

[30:25] you here today as we recognize

[30:26] the work that our clergy.

[30:27] Do in our community. We

[30:30] recognize as members of the

[30:30] clergy nicely on the cloth with

[30:34] you that the job is not easy.

[30:34] a lot of times it's a daunting

[30:35] task that you don't get paid

[30:38] enough to do. But we certainly

[30:40] appreciate you, we know that

[30:41] the work is plentiful. But I I

[30:43] thank GOD for the labors that

[30:43] he has planted here in the

[30:46] Vineyard. Thank you so much

[30:46] faster or the for your

[30:47] leadership and for your mentor

[30:48] ship and MAY GOD bless you each

[30:51] of you in the work that you do

[30:54] thank you so much Sir.

[30:56] Thank you.

[30:56] >> I'm just so thankful the

[31:00] proclamations that it really

[31:01] best, I mean I'm just so

[31:02] thankful for the diverse just

[31:03] plethora of faith leaders that

[31:06] we have in our community and

[31:07] getting to know.

[31:08] Almost all of you personally

[31:12] has been just one of the true

[31:12] blessings of my life and so

[31:14] thank you for what you do each

[31:14] and every day each and every

[31:18] minute for our community for

[31:21] your.

[31:22] For

[31:23] your churchgoers just just know

[31:26] that we share in the joy of

[31:26] those

[31:27] moments and then the tearful

[31:30] ones too. And we're just so

[31:32] very

[31:32] thankful for your calling and

[31:34] you're even more important your

[31:35] willingness to listen to the

[31:36] call. And so thank you so much

[31:39] and we're celebrating you

[31:43] today.

[31:50] >> Okay we're going to move on

[31:51] to deep 3 are domestic violence

[31:52] awareness month proclamation

[31:53] and then be given to us by our

[31:56] vice chair, vice chair him

[31:59] once.

[32:13] >> Thank you chair. I would

[32:15] like to invite Larry on the

[32:17] foresight with the ceo of Casa

[32:21] i think he is somewhere you

[32:24] there she is and John long the

[32:28] vp of abuse services for hope

[32:30] villages of America

[32:30] to join me here at the podium.

[32:31] >> You know before I was a City

[32:34] Council member I worked for

[32:35] many

[32:36] years as a prosecutor. When you

[32:38] work at the prosecutor's office

[32:40] and you start as a young

[32:40] prosecutor and the misdemeanor

[32:44] division. They're 2 path you

[32:44] can take

[32:47] at some point when you're there

[32:48] you can handle domestic

[32:49] violence cases along with the

[32:50] other cases because the

[32:51] handover it cases but the

[32:54] method violence cases are go to

[32:57] traffic court and

[32:58] a lot of the attorneys that go

[32:59] and star at the state

[33:01] Attorney's office go to the

[33:04] domestic violence unit, the

[33:05] fact that there is

[33:07] a domestic violence unit.

[33:08] That handles cases at the state

[33:10] Attorney's office tells you

[33:13] what you need to know. Because

[33:17] it is something that is among

[33:20] us everywhere

[33:20] you MAY not see it. But I will

[33:23] tell you if you go to the

[33:24] courtrooms if you go to the

[33:26] agencies that provide the

[33:27] services you will see those

[33:29] victims out there and and there

[33:29] are many victims out there that

[33:32] their voices are never heard

[33:34] that they never make it to a

[33:36] courtroom. And so today's the

[33:40] day to bring awareness to that.

[33:41] I want to thank

[33:44] all the agencies here both

[33:45] present and not present that

[33:48] provide prevention and to raise

[33:51] intervention support. In

[33:52] domestic violence area also the

[33:55] law enforcement agencies that

[33:56] work closely with

[33:59] the agencies with the state

[34:01] attorneys. This is truly

[34:02] an area that it's not just one

[34:05] group of people that's going to

[34:07] work it's a lot of people.

[34:09] So this affects not just the

[34:12] victim. But it affects families

[34:14] it affects a community.

[34:15] So with that being said I would

[34:18] like to read the proclamation.

[34:22] Each OCTOBER we come together

[34:23] as a community to observe

[34:24] domestic violence awareness

[34:26] month recognizing the profound

[34:30] impact think violence has

[34:31] on individuals families

[34:33] businesses and society. Whereas

[34:36] domestic violence is a pattern

[34:37] of abusive behavior in any

[34:38] relationship that is used by

[34:40] one partner to gain or maintain

[34:44] power and control over their

[34:44] intimate partner and whereas

[34:45] domestic violence is pervasive

[34:48] issue that affects millions

[34:49] regardless of age gender race

[34:51] or socioeconomic status, and it

[34:52] requires a collective

[34:53] commitment to raise awareness

[34:55] provide support and seek

[34:59] justice for victims. And

[35:00] whereas we honor the strength

[35:01] and resilience of survivors and

[35:04] acknowledge the tireless

[35:05] efforts. Virgin of

[35:07] organizations and advocates who

[35:10] worked to end domestic violence

[35:11] and provide safety and support

[35:12] for those affected. And whereas

[35:14] the city of St. Petersburg

[35:15] supports organizations that

[35:17] provide resources. Safety and

[35:21] advocacy to domestic violence,

[35:24] survivors and

[35:24] their children. Now therefore I

[35:26] share with that hand with some

[35:28] behalf of the mayor Kenneth t

[35:30] watch of the city of St.

[35:33] Petersburg do hereby proclaim

[35:34] Oct. 20 25 as domestic violence

[35:35] awareness month and urged all

[35:37] citizens to actively

[35:38] participate in scheduled

[35:39] activities and programs

[35:42] sponsored by local agencies to

[35:45] work towards the elimination

[35:46] of personal and institutional

[35:49] violence against people.

[35:52] Thank you for all you do.

[35:59] >> Thank you MR. CHAIRMAN and

[36:03] council members thank you for

[36:03] having us here and for the

[36:06] Pa Commission we appreciate the

[36:09] awareness to a very big

[36:10] issue in our community. We

[36:11] talked about some of the

[36:12] numbers and 70% of domestic

[36:13] violence cases are never

[36:16] reported so they're happening

[36:17] in our community.

[36:19] All the time for those that are

[36:20] reported Casa were one of the

[36:22] largest domestic violence

[36:24] agencies in the state of

[36:27] Florida. Last year we served

[36:30] over 3,000 people at our agency

[36:31] we served about

[36:34] 540 people in our shelter, half

[36:36] of that is always children.

[36:36] One of the issues that we have

[36:39] with domestic violence because

[36:42] the numbers are so big for

[36:46] every 25 people that call our

[36:47] hotline. We are only able to

[36:48] shelter one of those people.

[36:48] So it causes we started a

[36:51] family Justice center will be

[36:52] can offer wrap-around services

[36:55] for survivors even if we can't

[36:58] provide the shelter because we

[36:59] are always full, we can

[37:02] still help with other types of

[37:03] services, including rehousing

[37:04] 906 people 2 housing programs,

[37:05] some of which she well-funded

[37:08] so thank you for that

[37:11] additional assistance,

[37:12] the issue here is large federal

[37:13] funding for services like ours

[37:16] is being cut and so we ask that

[37:18] you do remember us and think

[37:20] about how critical these

[37:21] services are as we move forward

[37:21] into the coming years so thank

[37:24] you to anybody have any

[37:27] questions for me.

[37:32] Are you gonna make any

[37:32] comments.

[37:33] Yeah we'll do comments and then

[37:34] we'll go to questions. Thank

[37:34] you very much. Sure and I just

[37:37] echo it and say thank you for

[37:38] the support from the city.

[37:39] Has shared we know that this is

[37:42] an issue that continuously

[37:43] grows. So how do we stop it.

[37:45] One of the things that we

[37:46] really focus on is that

[37:49] prevention key. We have a

[37:50] program that goes in

[37:51] the vp case in elementary

[37:53] schools. Last year alone they

[37:55] served us all about 3500

[37:56] students. During that time

[37:58] there in that classroom they

[37:58] they sing goofy songs and

[38:01] they've got this goofy puppet.

[38:02] But they're just teaching these

[38:04] kids that its not ok to use

[38:07] your hands use your words not

[38:08] your hands find a safe

[38:08] place of things are happening

[38:09] to your house. We do this

[38:10] project with them where we show

[38:13] them a picture of a house and

[38:13] we say if some at the adult in

[38:16] the House are fighting where

[38:18] would you go to a safe place.

[38:19] It's the kids often in my

[38:20] bedroom or the kitchen is a

[38:21] very popular place that they

[38:24] pick. But we've had kids that

[38:26] say I can't go hide.

[38:28] I've got to break up the fight.

[38:29] And so we've got 5 year-old 6

[38:30] year-old that think that

[38:32] they're the referee at the

[38:36] family. Of the family. They

[38:36] have to get

[38:37] involved they have to stop the

[38:39] violence. And so we started

[38:42] that very young age just making

[38:42] sure that kids understand that

[38:45] there's a different way to

[38:46] settle things we've

[38:46] really focused lately and in

[38:47] Jordan Park and just now

[38:48] joining Park area we've seen

[38:50] about a 70% increase of the are

[38:53] in takes that are seeking help

[38:53] that are victims of domestic

[38:56] again I appreciate the support.

[38:57] The ongoing support. There's

[39:00] more work to be done. So thank

[39:03] you thank you.

[39:05] >> And thank you so much Larry

[39:08] for the work that you and costs

[39:09] are doing.

[39:09] For years even before you know

[39:12] my time here on Council I've

[39:12] had the opportunity

[39:16] to volunteer there. Your thrift

[39:17] store and I just know all the

[39:18] work of a patron so thank you

[39:19] so much and I want to know how

[39:20] can those who are listening

[39:22] both here in the audience and

[39:23] at home if they want to be an

[39:26] ally and lend a helping hand if

[39:29] they want

[39:30] to stop the violence how can

[39:30] they help.

[39:33] Many many ways you talked about

[39:34] volunteering we

[39:34] have many different volunteer

[39:35] opportunities, a fun way to get

[39:36] engaged with costs as actually

[39:39] we have a scavenger hunt in

[39:41] downtown St. Petersburg

[39:44] shop local right on Oct. 25th,

[39:45] that's a fun way to

[39:45] spread information about

[39:46] domestic violence and make sure

[39:49] that people who have a need for

[39:49] our

[39:50] services can get in touch with

[39:51] us but we do have lots of

[39:53] volunteer opportunities are you

[39:54] need to do is reach out tests

[39:54] at any point in time and it

[39:57] runs the gamut of working

[40:00] directly with survivors

[40:01] in the shelter. 2 working in

[40:02] the thrust or so plays to reach

[40:04] out to us if you'd like to get

[40:04] involved and humanitarian

[40:05] donations, I'm guessing you're

[40:06] accepting those as well always

[40:07] yes, thank you, thank you

[40:09] chair.

[40:12] Thank you.

[40:13] >> Well downstairs I I I'm not

[40:16] sure that you've got to hear my

[40:19] comments Mike my comments to

[40:20] the group.

[40:21] Before we came upstairs were

[40:22] we're celebrating a few things

[40:22] and then there's a few things

[40:24] that I love to eradicate off

[40:25] the face of the planet that

[40:28] we're talking about today, this

[40:28] is one of them. And so.

[40:32] Although we haven't gotten

[40:33] there yet.

[40:34] Thanks for fighting. The good

[40:37] fight. Both of you and so and

[40:39] your organizations and all of

[40:42] I know that the breath of those

[40:43] is wide from

[40:46] employees the volunteers

[40:47] contributors. And if we want to

[40:47] do that if we want to eradicate

[40:48] it and we're not gonna be able

[40:51] to do without partners like

[40:52] you. And so. Just for me, I'm

[40:53] very thankful for both of you.

[40:56] Thank you so much for being

[41:00] here. Thanks.

[41:10] Okay we're gonna move to d 4.

[41:13] Fire prevention awareness week

[41:14] proclamation and

[41:14] back with mayor Welch.

[41:15] Back MR. CHAIRMAN and Council

[41:16] we continue with the community

[41:16] safety theme and I'm honored to

[41:19] bring a proclamation in

[41:20] celebration.

[41:24] A fire prevention week. This

[41:24] year's campaign

[41:25] is quote charge into fire

[41:28] safety. Lithium ion batteries

[41:29] in your home

[41:30] end quote works to educate

[41:31] everyone about simple but

[41:33] important actions they can take

[41:36] to keep themselves and those

[41:37] around them safe.

[41:41] From home fires. I'm joined by

[41:44] chief deputy chief breast

[41:45] cestkowski chief was headed to

[41:45] some emergency travel. So he's

[41:46] not with us. And members of our

[41:48] Saint Pete fire rescue team,

[41:48] the very best in the business

[41:51] yacht show them some love

[41:54] please.

[42:00] >> Fire marshal Womack will

[42:02] share some information about

[42:03] Saint Petersburg's fire rescues

[42:04] efforts to prevent fires in our

[42:05] community through education and

[42:07] outreach and details about

[42:07] their upcoming block party

[42:11] event taking place this Sat. At

[42:14] Walter Fuller recreation.

[42:15] And the product and the

[42:18] product keep it down West West.

[42:19] You know sort of make sure you

[42:20] knew or what and the

[42:21] proclamation reads whereas the

[42:22] city of St. Petersburg is

[42:23] committed to ensuring the

[42:26] safety and security of all

[42:27] those living in and visiting.

[42:31] And whereas fires a serious

[42:31] public safety concern both

[42:32] locally and nationally and

[42:35] homes are the locations where

[42:35] people

[42:37] are at the greatest risk from

[42:38] fire. And whereas most of the

[42:41] electronics using homes daily,

[42:44] including smartphones tablets

[42:45] laptops power tools e-bikes

[42:48] e-scooters and toys are powered

[42:51] by lithium ion batteries

[42:52] which if

[42:55] misused damaged or improperly

[42:56] charged can overheat start a

[42:58] fire or even explode. And

[42:59] whereas the National fire

[43:01] protection Association nfpa

[43:02] reports an increase in battery

[43:04] related fires, underscoring the

[43:08] need for public education on

[43:08] the safe use of looking in ion

[43:11] batteries and whereas residents

[43:14] should follow 3 key calls to

[43:17] action. By only listed products

[43:20] charged battery safely and

[43:21] recycle them responsibly to

[43:22] prevent battery-related fires.

[43:25] And whereas lithium ion

[43:28] batteries store large amount of

[43:28] energy in a small space and

[43:31] improper use such as

[43:32] overcharging using off-brand

[43:33] Chargers without safety

[43:34] certification or exposing

[43:37] batteries to damage can result

[43:39] in fire or explosion.

[43:43] And whereas the proper disposal

[43:43] and recycling of lithium ion

[43:46] batteries help prevent

[43:47] environmental hazards and

[43:47] reduce fire risk in the home

[43:50] and community. And whereas the

[43:54] 2025 fire prevention week theme

[43:54] charge into fire safety.

[43:55] Lithium ion batteries in your

[43:57] home serves to remind us of the

[43:59] importance of using charging

[44:00] and recycling lithium ion

[44:03] battery safely to reduce the

[44:03] risk of

[44:04] fires in homes and communities.

[44:05] Therefore I can into Welsh

[44:08] mayor of the city of St.

[44:10] Petersburg do hereby proclaim

[44:13] Oct. 5th through the 11th 2025,

[44:16] as fire prevention week

[44:17] throughout the city and I urge

[44:19] all citizens to check their

[44:20] homes for fire hazards, you

[44:23] safe practices and to support

[44:24] the many public safety

[44:26] activities and efforts of the

[44:26] great St. Petersburg fire

[44:30] rescue department. Thank you

[44:33] all for being here.

[44:40] Appreciate that the fcpd fire

[44:40] rescue. Members of Council for

[44:43] giving us an opportunity to

[44:44] reinforce this message

[44:47] publicly and focus on fire

[44:47] prevention month. Started as a

[44:50] national recognition years ago

[44:50] when America was literally

[44:51] considered to be burning.

[44:54] So the effort of focus time

[44:57] stand down to really focus on

[45:00] fire safety. And this year

[45:01] focusing on lithium batteries

[45:02] who has won in their home.

[45:08] Everybody is it's an android

[45:18] >> The man known that you might

[45:19] not be the one speak Prowler.

[45:22] >> You we're seeing less

[45:23] frequency with android's yeah

[45:24] us not validated those quote me

[45:26] on that. It's a real issue and

[45:27] it's a real safety problem just

[45:29] to share with the community of

[45:32] the fires we've investigated so

[45:33] far this year 28%

[45:35] have been battery related.

[45:36] So it's a real issue we're

[45:37] seeing an increase in a lot of

[45:38] that increase is being driven

[45:41] by the use and the

[45:42] proliferation of

[45:43] lithium ion pipe devices.

[45:44] So that safety message is very

[45:47] very important some things to

[45:47] restate that

[45:49] you mentioned in the

[45:50] proclamation use only the the

[45:53] charging equipment and supplies

[45:54] charger cables that

[45:55] come with the device from the

[45:58] manufacturer. Oftentimes when

[45:59] charges go bad people replace

[46:00] them on Amazon and you have to

[46:03] remember the charger has to be

[46:04] properly calibrated to the

[46:06] battery in your device or it

[46:07] will overcharge it and it goes

[46:08] into a condition called thermal

[46:09] runaway, but you can't stop at

[46:11] home and it's going to end up

[46:14] in a in a more catastrophic

[46:16] event for you e-scooters

[46:19] e-bikes store those outside

[46:20] please don't put the hose in

[46:23] your home find summer away from

[46:24] the House outside the store

[46:25] them if at all possible, don't

[46:26] leave these devices unattended

[46:27] when you're know don't plug

[46:30] your phone and by the bed at

[46:34] night and go to sleep. You want

[46:34] to pull these devices off of a

[46:37] charger once they've once they

[46:40] fully charged charging 2 on

[46:41] non combustible surfaces.

[46:42] It's a very very prolific

[46:45] problem right now, but it's

[46:46] also very solvable problem with

[46:47] a couple of these simple steps

[46:50] we can really make an impact

[46:51] think about that reduce 28%

[46:52] incident of local fire the

[46:53] communities right here in

[46:54] Petersburg with an awareness on

[46:54] that so we appreciate the

[46:57] opportunity to highlight that.

[46:59] I do want to take a moment to

[47:02] thank this being fire

[47:03] prevention week. All of Saint

[47:04] Pete fire rescue participates

[47:07] in fire prevention every single

[47:09] day all 400 plus members of our

[47:10] organization there are some

[47:12] members that it is all they do

[47:13] every single day and I think

[47:14] it's important to draw

[47:15] attention to those. We have our

[47:16] public education outreach

[47:17] specialist folks here what

[47:20] you're very familiar with as

[47:22] well our deputy fire marshals

[47:23] are we got some of ours field

[47:24] inspectors here that go out and

[47:28] do thousands of inspections in

[47:30] the community. Every year

[47:31] looking for fire safety issues

[47:33] to help solve those. We've got

[47:33] plans examiners that review

[47:36] plans to make sure that things

[47:37] are built constructed.

[47:40] According to the fire code and

[47:40] also a team

[47:41] of arson investigators. And

[47:44] fire investigators and helped

[47:45] us to find cause and origin

[47:46] identify issues like battery

[47:47] issues and help us to craft

[47:47] code that then can overcome

[47:50] that so I appreciate the team

[47:51] in all the work they do daily

[47:54] hoping to actually prevent

[47:55] fires in the community and

[47:56] thanks for your time and I will

[47:56] restate again the block party.

[47:59] This is our big comeback party

[48:01] because we had to cancel last

[48:01] year because of the storms so

[48:02] we invite everybody in the

[48:04] community come out and help us

[48:05] relaunch our annual block

[48:05] party. It's this Sat., 10 to 2

[48:09] at Walter Fuller Park. Thank

[48:12] you.

[48:21] Councilmember Givens.

[48:21] Thank you so much and happy

[48:22] fire. Prevention awareness week

[48:23] to each of you thank you so

[48:24] much chief your presence and to

[48:24] each of you all and your

[48:27] rightful places. Back in MARCH,

[48:30] I had the opportunity to go out

[48:31] with a few

[48:32] volunteers and some of our fire

[48:33] personnel and we went out into

[48:36] the child's Park neighborhood

[48:39] which I believe ranks 17th

[48:40] nationally and number one

[48:41] in the state of Florida for the

[48:44] highest homers home virus and

[48:45] so what that means is because

[48:47] of the socioeconomic conditions

[48:48] in the proximity to a fire

[48:50] station child's parks homes

[48:51] have a higher risk of catching

[48:54] fire. And so we went out there

[48:57] and we

[48:58] installed over a 170 lithium

[48:59] power batteries which have a 10

[49:00] year lifespan. And so what i

[49:03] think you all are doing every

[49:04] day is you're being proactive

[49:07] about saving lives and I thank

[49:08] you so much for all that you

[49:09] do you risk their lives to save

[49:09] other lives and for that we say

[49:10] thank you so we're grateful for

[49:13] each of you thank you very much

[49:16] Sir. Thank you.

[49:19] >> Thank you, thank you.

[49:20] Mayor for the proclamation and

[49:23] to our Fire Department for all

[49:26] that you do. And

[49:27] I'm very happy that lets him

[49:30] that the that the batteries are

[49:34] the focus this year because.

[49:38] As he says cusk it's I've asked

[49:38] about this before.

[49:39] >> It is a growing concern and

[49:42] 28% of the incidents this year

[49:45] related to that.

[49:52] >> I'm hoping that this is

[49:52] going to launch a big

[49:55] communication effort because I

[49:56] think it's really just

[49:58] about knowing. Some of the

[50:01] things that you mentioned

[50:04] you've omak and and

[50:05] understanding what needs to be

[50:07] inside what needs to be outside

[50:11] you know the phone charger

[50:12] thing and

[50:15] then also disposal that's

[50:18] something

[50:19] that is really important so I

[50:20] have so couple weeks ago I

[50:22] changed out. 2 of my air tags.

[50:25] Yes chief a Mike there will be

[50:28] Apple. Tags.

[50:29] So I've got the old batteries

[50:30] and they're like still sitting

[50:31] on the counter because I'm like

[50:34] I got to remember where I'm

[50:35] supposed to take these.

[50:38] Do we have can you drop them

[50:39] off at any fire station kind of

[50:43] like the police station has the

[50:46] drop-off for old

[50:48] prescription meds.

[50:49] That kind of thing do you have

[50:49] The great question and thank

[50:51] you for highlighting that that

[50:52] was a keyboard player for a

[50:54] disposal writes oh, yeah oh to

[50:57] call to the number 2

[50:59] recycle all one word call 2

[51:02] recycle dot org and find out

[51:02] your closest spot to properly

[51:03] dispose of lithium ion

[51:06] batteries. And that's actually

[51:09] currently on the group.

[51:13] >> Great yeah, maybe we can get

[51:15] that out there and then I'm

[51:18] wondering and I'm sorry I

[51:19] should have looked before.

[51:21] But the Saint Pete collects app

[51:22] that many people have on their

[51:23] on their phone did remind you

[51:24] when you have to take your

[51:26] recycling out and things like

[51:26] that there's a like a waste

[51:30] wizard or you can look this up

[51:32] is that do you happen to know

[51:33] if that I'm not gonna look all

[51:34] we're sitting here but don't

[51:36] know that that's on there but I

[51:37] will tell you it is an issue of

[51:37] the.

[51:40] Few recycling facility fires

[51:43] that we have had over the years

[51:47] generally leads back to

[51:47] better disposal issues. Yeah.

[51:48] So that staff needs to go

[51:51] somewhere else and so I'm just

[51:54] wondering if someone whoever

[51:54] handles that

[51:55] the app because so many people

[51:58] have it and I just want to make

[52:01] sure that that's listed

[52:02] on there as as for for that

[52:02] information that that would be

[52:04] perfect and the touch on your

[52:07] earlier point to as we continue

[52:10] to identify

[52:12] the hazards and risks to the

[52:12] community.

[52:13] Those public safety messages

[52:14] will We've communicated

[52:15] throughout this year about the

[52:16] with him on fire son. The issue

[52:19] that's growing and as chief

[52:22] Mike identified so

[52:22] we will continue those efforts.

[52:25] >> I can't wait to see you guys

[52:26] in the videos

[52:27] that will run on Saint Pete tv.

[52:30] >> Mack the you said something

[52:32] about e-scooters and

[52:32] e-bikes should be kept outside.

[52:35] If you could give a little bit

[52:36] more

[52:36] context to that because I I

[52:39] don't think they necessarily

[52:42] have to be outside all the

[52:42] time. And when they're being

[52:43] charged where it should they be

[52:46] because I'm thinking about them

[52:49] being outside in the rain,

[52:53] not such a great idea.

[52:53] Yeah so what I don't want to

[52:54] see them is in a bedroom, our

[52:55] department. You know the

[52:56] reality is is that has the

[52:57] potential to catch fire and

[52:59] because of that thermal runaway

[53:01] win that device starts to

[53:04] smoke. There's nothing the

[53:06] homeowner do can do to stop it.

[53:07] It's going to end up going into

[53:08] an explosion it's going to

[53:10] release toxic gases and it

[53:11] contained room a small

[53:13] betterment will make it

[53:14] untenable very dangerous from

[53:17] the health and survivability

[53:17] standpoint and also the fire

[53:18] conditional escalate very

[53:20] quickly so it is we're seeing

[53:21] that is somewhat common

[53:22] practice, right people people

[53:25] are relying on these a lot and

[53:26] they live in

[53:27] apartments and they're bringing

[53:28] them inside the House with

[53:30] them. So it just increases the

[53:31] risks I don't have a good

[53:31] solution, but I think it's

[53:32] important the public knows what

[53:33] type of risk there assuming

[53:36] when they bring those devices

[53:39] into the home.

[53:41] >> It'll be interesting to do

[53:43] some research and see if there

[53:44] are other cities. That have

[53:47] come up with some. A brilliant

[53:49] idea that we just haven't

[53:49] thought of yet.

[53:50] Yeah there's quite a bit of

[53:51] code development work being

[53:52] done across the country right

[53:54] now to try to address the

[53:56] lithium ion issue some local

[53:57] jurisdictions have have even

[53:58] created a local ordinance where

[53:59] you can store those devices

[54:02] inside. Specially when it's

[54:03] apartment building stuff.

[54:06] I don't know if those are good

[54:06] solutions. I will say this

[54:07] sprinkler protected buildings

[54:08] can help contain that event to

[54:11] the area of origin. So those

[54:12] are

[54:15] absolutely lifesaving features

[54:17] as well and and there's

[54:18] manual studies and laboratory

[54:18] studies show far to indicate

[54:19] the sprinkler can't can't make

[54:21] the fire not occur, but it can

[54:22] keep it contained in the area

[54:25] in which it occurred. So those

[54:29] are very effective as well.

[54:30] All right well.

[54:30] You just keep working to make

[54:31] sure it doesn't happen in the

[54:32] first place. Thank you so much

[54:33] for thank you all for all that

[54:34] you do thank you chair, thank

[54:38] you.

[54:43] >> Chief I'm going to I'm going

[54:46] to be the shining example of

[54:47] what not to

[54:50] do in 2 instances because over

[54:53] the last year and

[54:55] I have had to lithium battery

[54:58] experiences. One was during

[55:00] hurricane Helene

[55:01] my best friend went out of

[55:02] town. And he wasn't here the 2

[55:03] days before the storm the day

[55:04] leading up to the storm I went

[55:07] to his house my wife dropped me

[55:08] off down the block because

[55:10] there was already a foot of

[55:11] water. In the streets, I went

[55:12] and the energized his home

[55:14] because we were worried

[55:17] obviously needs got all the

[55:18] things right. And so we come

[55:19] back. I think 2 days after the

[55:20] storm because it took him a

[55:22] couple of days to get back into

[55:23] town.

[55:27] Get into the house to all these

[55:28] things

[55:29] we re energize the House with

[55:32] actually f the treasure Island

[55:33] ft there to make sure

[55:34] that we're doing it safely and

[55:34] get all the stuff out of his

[55:38] house because House is ruined

[55:39] at this

[55:40] point right took on 3 and a

[55:42] half feet and left the House

[55:43] they Wed. At a buddy South that

[55:46] night came back in his house

[55:47] was destroyed burned down.

[55:47] Because that left one thing

[55:48] plugged in a children's toy

[55:51] that had a lithium ion battery.

[55:56] It's crazy granting like you do

[55:57] all the right steps up to the

[56:00] last one and something bad

[56:01] happens. Now

[56:03] I couldn't make fun of my best

[56:05] friend and feel good about it

[56:08] without making fun of me.

[56:10] So talk about air tags

[56:11] I have never had one before.

[56:12] I got one as a gift and it

[56:15] wasn't popping up on my phone.

[56:16] And I'm like oh what must be

[56:20] dead. So I put it on my watch

[56:22] charger got into the shower.

[56:25] That blew up my watch charger

[56:28] and so up this is.

[56:30] This is a girl this

[56:33] guy problem we need to read

[56:34] directions more. And so I'm

[56:36] just very appreciative of that

[56:39] campaign and highlighting this

[56:41] because just

[56:41] the simplest little thing

[56:43] right. I mean you make a lot of

[56:44] really really good decisions

[56:47] and one okay one not you know,

[56:48] let just less than ok and it

[56:49] could be catastrophic. And so

[56:52] my my point in bringing these

[56:55] stories is. It can happen

[56:57] anywhere anytime to anybody.

[57:00] And so I'm just very thankful.

[57:01] I totally read reiterate

[57:01] councilmember Givens comments

[57:03] about the work that you guys do

[57:06] every single day and making

[57:09] sure that dumb bombs like me.

[57:10] Make it through to the next

[57:12] day. And so thank you so much

[57:13] for everything that you do and

[57:14] and just know that you continue

[57:15] to have our full faith and

[57:18] support so thanks so much for

[57:21] being here.

[57:27] They were

[57:28] clapping for you not my

[57:29] decision making.

[57:30] Okay we're going to move on to

[57:31] the 5 we're going to talk about

[57:31] national lead poisoning

[57:35] prevention week councilmember

[57:38] Harding thank you chair.

[57:40] >> For those of us who have

[57:42] been around long enough to gain

[57:43] the wisdom that I have chair

[57:44] Gerson a para administrator to

[57:47] Santa Fe that second time

[57:49] getting picked on.

[57:50] It is nice to be able to talk

[57:54] about things that that we have

[57:55] made enough progress on that

[57:57] have the ability to go away.

[57:59] We talked about we talked about

[58:00] domestic violence and that's a

[58:01] battle that will fight forever

[58:05] and will do our best to to to

[58:06] to to

[58:07] make ends and to make progress

[58:07] some things are are a little

[58:10] bit are a little bit easier if

[58:12] they have champions and in this

[58:15] case they do back in the in the

[58:16] 40's and 50's

[58:17] and 60's Weise to build houses

[58:19] would let him. They were it was

[58:21] a cheap metal and pliable and

[58:22] we built it into moldings we

[58:24] built into window cells.

[58:26] And it turns out that that's a

[58:27] really bad idea. But it takes a

[58:30] champion or it takes a group of

[58:31] champions to to really bring

[58:33] this to light and then do the

[58:36] work to to change the way that

[58:36] we do things

[58:40] and in this case. The city has

[58:41] been the city like

[58:42] other municipalities has been

[58:43] as as held a hand in this the

[58:43] building code is how the hand

[58:45] in this and in groups like the

[58:48] healthy homes coalition have

[58:49] held a hand in this. So I so

[58:50] our Park our proclamation today

[58:51] whereas lead exposure in

[58:52] children, especially those

[58:55] under the age of 6 even at very

[58:55] low levels MAY damage the brain

[58:56] and the nervous system

[58:59] resulting in hearing speech and

[59:00] behavior problems and

[59:02] whereas lead exposure to

[59:02] children can result from

[59:05] multiple sources, including

[59:06] drinking water from corrosion

[59:06] of lead service lines and a

[59:09] variety of everyday consumer

[59:11] and commercial goods and

[59:13] whereas lead based paint and

[59:14] the contaminated dust that

[59:15] generates and homes and soil

[59:17] represents one of the most

[59:18] dangerous widespread sources,

[59:20] the exposure affecting children

[59:21] and whereas lead poisoning is

[59:22] preventable. The key is to keep

[59:23] children from encountering

[59:26] lead. And there are simple

[59:28] steps that can be taken to

[59:29] protect all family members from

[59:30] lead based paint hazards in the

[59:32] home and where is education and

[59:33] awareness about the dangers of

[59:36] lead can help protect the lives

[59:38] of children living in St.

[59:39] Petersburg now for now

[59:41] therefore I Mike Hardin

[59:42] councilmember on behalf of

[59:43] candidate. He was mayor of the

[59:44] city of St. Petersburg Florida,

[59:47] hereby proclaim Oct. 19 through

[59:48] the 25th 2025.

[59:49] His national lead poisoning

[59:51] prevention week and urge all

[59:52] citizens to actively observed

[59:54] this week to enhance public

[59:55] awareness of lead poisoning

[59:56] prevention and the ways we can

[59:59] protect our families from lead

[1:00:00] poisoning and encourage all

[1:00:01] citizens to support lead hazard

[1:00:04] prevention efforts throughout

[1:00:07] the city and year-round.

[1:00:19] >> Thank you on behalf of the

[1:00:19] cities. Housing and community

[1:00:21] development Department I'm

[1:00:22] honored to accept this

[1:00:25] proclamation recognizing

[1:00:26] national lead poisoning.

[1:00:29] Prevention week. Lead poisoning

[1:00:29] is entirely preventable.

[1:00:33] Get it continues to threaten

[1:00:34] the health and the

[1:00:35] future for children and

[1:00:36] families in our community.

[1:00:39] South Petersburg is within the

[1:00:42] 95 to 100% percentile

[1:00:43] for lead paint pollution.

[1:00:45] This proclamation affirms our

[1:00:49] city's commitment to education,

[1:00:51] early detection safe housing

[1:00:53] and coordination action to

[1:00:56] eliminate these lead hazards.

[1:00:57] I want to thank the mayor City

[1:01:00] Council. And our city's healthy

[1:01:02] home coalition.

[1:01:06] Our community partners such as

[1:01:06] the Department

[1:01:07] of Health for their leadership

[1:01:07] in support together we're

[1:01:10] advancing the goal of ensuring

[1:01:11] that every child in St.

[1:01:14] Petersburg grows up in a

[1:01:15] healthy

[1:01:16] safe and thriving environment.

[1:01:18] We hope that you will all join

[1:01:20] us at our get the lead out kick

[1:01:23] out event Sat. Oct. 25th, you

[1:01:26] can come there.

[1:01:28] The slay have some fun think

[1:01:29] a shopping downtown for pasta

[1:01:30] from noon to 4 will be a

[1:01:32] child's Park recreation center

[1:01:35] where there's going to be

[1:01:37] family fun, community resources

[1:01:38] and it is finally the

[1:01:41] opportunity to learn about our

[1:01:43] lead paint remediation grants.

[1:01:45] Thank you again for this

[1:01:46] recognition for your

[1:01:46] partnership in building,

[1:01:49] healthier future for all of her

[1:01:52] residence.

[1:02:05] >> Thank you doctor sliker.

[1:02:06] >> Cancer awareness month

[1:02:07] proclamation, and it's going to

[1:02:09] be presented by your own chair.

[1:02:11] Here Curtis.

[1:02:14] Thank you MADAM By Cher and

[1:02:14] joining us. We have

[1:02:15] some representatives from a

[1:02:16] couple local hospitals from Bay

[1:02:18] front Orlando health. We've got

[1:02:21] Jamie hershberger the

[1:02:24] associate. The associate chief

[1:02:24] nursing officer and

[1:02:25] Matt let we're there in a

[1:02:28] governmental and then from Bay

[1:02:29] care more implant we've got

[1:02:29] Peter Blume and DR. Peter Blum

[1:02:31] Krantz who is the medical

[1:02:32] director of the Bay care cancer

[1:02:34] Institute and Tim McMahon who's

[1:02:36] the director care cancer

[1:02:38] Institute and also joining me

[1:02:41] this. This afternoon as my wife

[1:02:45] Cecil eagerness. So.

[1:02:48] 5 years ago yesterday. Our

[1:02:51] lives changed very drastically.

[1:02:53] My wife was diagnosed with

[1:02:56] stage 4 lobular breast cancer.

[1:03:03] She's my hero.

[1:03:04] And before I get into a

[1:03:05] little bit of that story.

[1:03:07] I want to talk about our

[1:03:08] heroes. The doctors, the

[1:03:11] nurses, the researchers who

[1:03:14] have

[1:03:15] supported us along this

[1:03:15] journey.

[1:03:16] Let me tell you there are a

[1:03:16] couple of them that we would

[1:03:18] not have been able to get

[1:03:20] through the way we did without.

[1:03:22] Our team has been amazing and

[1:03:24] so to all of the doctors and

[1:03:26] nurses here and those that are

[1:03:27] listening you're changing the

[1:03:31] world and you're changing mine.

[1:03:34] On a daily basis.

[1:03:40] Breast cancer is one of those

[1:03:44] things that in my opinion.

[1:03:47] Not only changes you.

[1:03:50] Emotionally

[1:03:51] physically not not just

[1:03:54] physically inward but

[1:03:55] physically outward and so.

[1:03:58] Going through this process with

[1:04:01] my wife.

[1:04:02] It was clear to me that this

[1:04:05] not only would we be dealing

[1:04:05] with this for for certain

[1:04:08] period of time but we'd be

[1:04:11] dealing with it for the rest of

[1:04:12] our lives.

[1:04:13] And that's just because of

[1:04:16] frankly the the emotional and

[1:04:19] the physical scars that come

[1:04:22] along with it. And.

[1:04:26] I need her to know.

[1:04:29] She is loved

[1:04:30] and cared for. And we'll

[1:04:33] continue to be until the day I

[1:04:36] take my last breath.

[1:04:38] And I don't want to make this

[1:04:40] about me. But I think sometimes

[1:04:41] who we don't talk about are the

[1:04:44] spouses the families the

[1:04:47] friends, the kids that affects

[1:04:48] as well. You're going to hear

[1:04:51] in a minute some stats about

[1:04:52] one in 8 women is that has as a

[1:04:55] breast cancer diagnosis in the

[1:04:57] last 5 years we have had 3

[1:04:59] close friends in our world be

[1:04:59] diagnosed a 4th just wrote a

[1:05:02] stakeholder in this community.

[1:05:06] And so it it's amazing.

[1:05:12] What still lies ahead of us.

[1:05:15] One of those friends.

[1:05:21] And so she was diagnosed just a

[1:05:32] few months after my wife.

[1:05:33] She she received amazing care

[1:05:33] and is in remission today.

[1:05:34] Thank the mayor for bringing

[1:05:35] this forward I want to thank

[1:05:35] Council for giving me the grace

[1:05:37] to celebrate my life and being

[1:05:40] a be a little selfish.

[1:05:42] But anytime I

[1:05:43] can get her up here and talk

[1:05:44] about what an amazing woman she

[1:05:46] is and I'm going to go one step

[1:05:49] further because as you know

[1:05:50] just over a month ago she lost

[1:05:51] her dad. And so not only is my

[1:05:55] wife a breast cancer survivor,

[1:05:58] a mom of 2 a husband to me or

[1:05:59] excuse a wife to me

[1:06:00] which that should be at the top

[1:06:03] of the list of things that are

[1:06:06] difficult.

[1:06:09] She is an accomplished human

[1:06:10] resources director for a local

[1:06:12] company. And right now she's

[1:06:13] the defacto ceo of Len Thi

[1:06:15] liquors after her dad's

[1:06:17] passing. And let me tell you

[1:06:21] just 2 or 3 of those things is

[1:06:24] enough to have all of them.

[1:06:25] His incredible a miraculous.

[1:06:26] And I'm not going to look at

[1:06:29] you Cecil eagerness but I love

[1:06:30] you very very very much.

[1:06:33] And thank you for everything

[1:06:35] you do for me in our family

[1:06:39] and your family. And I am on

[1:06:40] this journey with you.

[1:06:43] Till the very end. And I love

[1:06:46] you very much. Here's the

[1:06:49] proclamation.

[1:06:58] 833 American men will develop

[1:06:59] breast cancer at some point in

[1:07:03] their lives or one person.

[1:07:06] Every 2 minutes.

[1:07:07] Breast cancer touches. So

[1:07:08] many lives in our city and

[1:07:11] county. From our loved ones and

[1:07:12] friends to our neighbors and

[1:07:12] co-workers who have survived or

[1:07:16] lost their lives to breast

[1:07:19] cancer. And whereas thanks to

[1:07:20] earlier detection and better

[1:07:23] treatments. Mortality rates for

[1:07:24] breast

[1:07:26] cancer have decreased in the

[1:07:27] last decade. And whereas

[1:07:29] affordable access to screenings

[1:07:30] and early detection for all

[1:07:34] women is an essential component

[1:07:36] in the fight against breast

[1:07:38] cancer. And whereas the state

[1:07:40] of Florida recognize the need

[1:07:43] to provide uninsured low-income

[1:07:44] women ages 50 to 64 with access

[1:07:47] of to lifesaving cancer

[1:07:49] screenings such as mammography

[1:07:50] and cervical cancer screenings

[1:07:53] through its breast and cervical

[1:07:55] cancer program or be ccp and

[1:07:57] whereas the Florida Department

[1:08:00] of Health and Pinellas counties

[1:08:01] be ccp performs life-saving

[1:08:01] screenings yearly and has been

[1:08:05] recognized as one of the state

[1:08:08] the state's top programs.

[1:08:12] We stand with our mothers.

[1:08:14] Our daughters.

[1:08:17] Our grandmothers, our sisters

[1:08:18] and our friends.

[1:08:21] And our wives. Supporting their

[1:08:23] struggle after a breast cancer

[1:08:24] diagnosis. As well as

[1:08:28] recognizing the doctors.

[1:08:30] The nurse ers the researchers

[1:08:31] and all other health

[1:08:32] professional whose care and

[1:08:32] dedication gives hope to those

[1:08:35] living with Brett breast

[1:08:38] cancer.

[1:08:40] Therefore I Gehrke hopefully

[1:08:40] Curtis on behalf of Kenneth t

[1:08:43] Welsh the mayor of the city

[1:08:46] of St. Petersburg do hereby

[1:08:47] proclaim Oct. 20 25 as breast

[1:08:47] cancer awareness month

[1:08:50] throughout the city and I urge

[1:08:51] all residents.

[1:08:53] To educate themselves on

[1:08:54] prevention and treatment

[1:08:58] options of this devastating

[1:09:01] disease. Thank you.

[1:09:06] I'm gonna ask doctor bloom in

[1:09:07] grants to come up and say a few

[1:09:10] words, MADAM Vice chair, thank

[1:09:12] you.

[1:09:14] Thank you so much. It's an

[1:09:18] honor to be here and I want to

[1:09:21] thank mayor

[1:09:22] chair and council members for

[1:09:23] having us.

[1:09:23] It's really wonderful to

[1:09:24] celebrate with all of you.

[1:09:24] On behalf of a care in the

[1:09:25] camps into it I can tell you

[1:09:27] that you've got Anthony has

[1:09:30] your back yard here since 19 31

[1:09:30] in glad to have that

[1:09:31] contribution to community

[1:09:32] health care of everyone around

[1:09:35] here on a personal note.

[1:09:37] Having take care of close

[1:09:39] friend. I can tell you I've

[1:09:40] been surgical practices that

[1:09:40] hurt my colleges for over 40

[1:09:43] years of operation, thousands

[1:09:45] of women and then in

[1:09:46] important and then don't forget

[1:09:49] male breast cancer in this

[1:09:50] County

[1:09:52] and I will tell you that one

[1:09:53] thing never cease to amaze me

[1:09:54] and that's the strength of the

[1:09:57] human spirit because in the

[1:09:57] worst adversity no one wants

[1:09:59] to hear that c word and the

[1:10:01] strength that women and their

[1:10:02] family show to get through this

[1:10:04] is remarkable in the worst of

[1:10:05] circumstances. The wonderful

[1:10:07] news is things are getting

[1:10:08] better when I started my

[1:10:09] training up in New York, it's

[1:10:09] on Kettering. We did radical

[1:10:11] mastectomies everybody have

[1:10:11] their removed they were

[1:10:13] terribly disfigured and now if

[1:10:15] you catch it early and you do

[1:10:18] good screening. We have over

[1:10:19] 95% cure rate and you can have

[1:10:20] an outpatient small on taking

[1:10:20] out maybe a lymph node and go

[1:10:23] home the same day go back to

[1:10:23] the committee's next day.

[1:10:24] That's remarkable. It won't

[1:10:27] take too much time at the one

[1:10:27] new thing we're doing. There is

[1:10:30] evidence of the past couple of

[1:10:32] years that

[1:10:33] women of young age under 50.

[1:10:34] The incidence of breast cancer

[1:10:35] is increasing we're not sure

[1:10:38] why it MAY be something genetic

[1:10:39] or environmental, and by

[1:10:39] mental, but we are starting a

[1:10:40] new program just launching

[1:10:43] which have been a pet project

[1:10:45] of mine as a high risk

[1:10:49] assessment project. This is

[1:10:49] powered by software, something

[1:10:52] called cancer iq where patients

[1:10:53] or anyone in the

[1:10:54] community can go on a tablet or

[1:10:55] phone scan a qr code answers to

[1:10:56] the questions and then a few

[1:10:58] minutes, we'll know if they're

[1:10:59] at high risk for any one of 9

[1:11:00] candidates, including breast

[1:11:02] and then we can get at them

[1:11:04] early and the goal of that is

[1:11:07] instead of the presenting

[1:11:07] disease MAY be some states 2 or

[1:11:09] 3 or even 4 when it's

[1:11:10] metastatic if we can find the

[1:11:12] people at risk before they have

[1:11:13] the disease we could start

[1:11:17] screening sooner. We can often

[1:11:18] of its breast cancer detective,

[1:11:18] a bracket mutation which leads

[1:11:19] to increased risk. They can

[1:11:20] have preventive surgery never

[1:11:22] do with cancer in their lives.

[1:11:23] Our goal.

[1:11:24] Sheens that curve we're going

[1:11:25] to move the curve of stage

[1:11:28] disease back. So that's really

[1:11:31] good.

[1:11:37] Councilmember Harding

[1:11:41] thank you chair.

[1:11:42] Look it's thank you you mention

[1:11:45] that the. Talked about human

[1:11:48] spirit.

[1:11:50] And and I think that that

[1:11:52] we saw that that's been around

[1:11:53] forever. You also and not to

[1:11:54] diminish and but but we've

[1:11:56] always had the fighting spirit.

[1:11:56] He said things are getting

[1:12:00] better and they're getting

[1:12:03] better because of you.

[1:12:06] That I appreciate the efforts

[1:12:09] that they care makes it in

[1:12:09] making

[1:12:10] this an important part of their

[1:12:13] business model. I appreciate

[1:12:13] all the

[1:12:14] support that goes into what we

[1:12:16] do. But it is it is your

[1:12:20] profession and as you that that

[1:12:21] is

[1:12:22] is fighting this problem and

[1:12:22] making this something that the

[1:12:25] next generation doesn't have to

[1:12:28] face.

[1:12:36] >> Thank you all for everything

[1:12:39] you do honestly shared earnest.

[1:12:40] Thank

[1:12:40] you for your heartfelt words.

[1:12:43] Definitely you are seriously a

[1:12:44] hero

[1:12:45] and amazing and I agree with

[1:12:48] everything you're has been said

[1:12:49] I can understand why he would

[1:12:52] not turn around. I can barely

[1:12:52] sit up here like

[1:12:55] some of us and hold back tears

[1:12:58] but the work that doctors do

[1:13:01] you have a a group of people

[1:13:02] that are behind you

[1:13:02] and and everyone here honestly

[1:13:06] wants to see this erratic hated

[1:13:07] just like here. Curtis said and

[1:13:09] and I know that we're on our

[1:13:11] way be fun with doctor Saint.

[1:13:14] So thank you. Thank you.

[1:13:17] Okay.

[1:13:26] >> And next up we have the 6.

[1:13:27] >> The preschool officer

[1:13:28] program updates. And this is

[1:13:31] going to be presented by Earth

[1:13:36] Williams for kids world

[1:13:37] preschool and Jackie

[1:13:39] Lang imagination station

[1:13:41] daycare and and I will hand it

[1:13:43] over to councilmember fake

[1:13:44] Sanders, this is her item I

[1:13:47] believe this is first of all

[1:13:47] good

[1:13:48] afternoon, everyone and thank

[1:13:51] you for all that was presented

[1:13:53] today and they saved the

[1:13:53] best for last are young people.

[1:13:54] >> So we are going to have our

[1:13:56] pups program as well as MISTER

[1:13:59] Devine Miller, but I'm going to

[1:14:02] ask. This author Ian Williams

[1:14:05] as Jack Elaine, and I know I'm

[1:14:08] going to say this wrong.

[1:14:09] Officer Noor rachna and I

[1:14:10] was told to just say officer

[1:14:14] Meng to come on up with this

[1:14:15] program is is back in

[1:14:18] 2021. We had a rash of gun

[1:14:18] violence and we had an enough

[1:14:21] is enough movement. What we

[1:14:22] wanted to teach our community

[1:14:23] about the importance of gun

[1:14:26] violence but one of the things

[1:14:29] that we found is that.

[1:14:32] A lot of the ease in the

[1:14:32] anxiousness

[1:14:35] started with our babies started

[1:14:38] with our young households in so

[1:14:39] they understood the fact that

[1:14:41] police officers we're in

[1:14:44] control but they didn't have

[1:14:45] the correct

[1:14:46] understanding of why they were

[1:14:50] there. So we started the police

[1:14:50] officer

[1:14:53] program affectionately call

[1:14:54] pops where they had strong

[1:14:56] interactions with our men and

[1:14:59] women in blue and every time I

[1:14:59] get to go and see

[1:15:01] them have don't just going read

[1:15:03] books they actually go and have

[1:15:06] fun and I've noticed over the

[1:15:09] past 4 years, the relationships

[1:15:10] have changed with not only the

[1:15:13] children in our men and women

[1:15:14] in uniform with the parents as

[1:15:16] well. So with that I'm going to

[1:15:19] open it up to the south region

[1:15:20] Williams to showcase

[1:15:21] what our police officers are

[1:15:23] doing without preschoolers and

[1:15:24] they have been doing an awesome

[1:15:25] job and I want to think Saint

[1:15:28] Pete Police Department on think

[1:15:29] chief for saying

[1:15:30] yes when I called to ask but

[1:15:31] MISS Out 3 and then have a she

[1:15:33] has a waiting list of officers

[1:15:34] that are willing and I'm so

[1:15:38] excited about that. Is Williams

[1:15:44] Good afternoon mayor Welsh

[1:15:45] City Council members and

[1:15:46] guests. I'm often going

[1:15:48] Williams owner and

[1:15:49] administrator of kids were all

[1:15:52] preschool and learning Center.

[1:15:55] And this is.

[1:15:58] Missed decade, laying owner and

[1:15:59] administrators of imagination

[1:16:02] station preschool. We would

[1:16:03] like

[1:16:03] to thank council member big

[1:16:04] Sanders, but giving us the

[1:16:07] opportunity to share with you.

[1:16:10] The story

[1:16:14] and the impact up a program

[1:16:16] that has truly touched the

[1:16:19] lives and hearts of our

[1:16:22] children, our families and

[1:16:25] staff and would not have become

[1:16:28] a reality without the diligence

[1:16:30] of councilmember big Sanders.

[1:16:32] The program and she said his

[1:16:35] preschool office of program

[1:16:38] that we call

[1:16:41] pops Potts was launched at kids

[1:16:44] whirl imagination station and

[1:16:47] 11 other preschools in AUGUST

[1:16:50] of 20 21 with one

[1:16:53] simple

[1:16:54] go

[1:16:57] to build positive relationships

[1:17:00] between our youngest learners

[1:17:03] and Saint Pete's fine us.

[1:17:05] The police officers who serve

[1:17:08] our community since its

[1:17:10] inception.

[1:17:14] Over 100 of at kids world vpk

[1:17:17] students have participated

[1:17:19] in this incredible program

[1:17:23] and imagination station has but

[1:17:25] 80 to participate.

[1:17:29] The concept is simple. Yet

[1:17:30] powerful.

[1:17:33] Once a month. Our police

[1:17:35] officers visit at preschools

[1:17:36] there's no script. No structure

[1:17:40] of mess and plan and no the

[1:17:43] malady just

[1:17:44] button and up

[1:17:45] take interaction on the

[1:17:48] playground. Our children see

[1:17:51] them laughing being silly

[1:17:53] and enjoying being a part

[1:17:55] of the every day world. That's

[1:17:57] what makes it so meaningful.

[1:18:01] Our children get to see that

[1:18:04] officers people

[1:18:06] just like them. They have

[1:18:09] families that much they like to

[1:18:12] play and they care deeply

[1:18:15] about our community. Example of

[1:18:18] that is they here.

[1:18:19] They don't have to be.

[1:18:22] They are here because they want

[1:18:24] to be. But some of that

[1:18:27] children. They have only known

[1:18:29] police offices through

[1:18:32] negative. A stressful situation

[1:18:36] involving mostly

[1:18:37] their family members.

[1:18:41] Pops gives them a new

[1:18:44] perspective. Children

[1:18:45] who wants was hesitant

[1:18:47] and now they have the biggest

[1:18:50] brand they went up to the

[1:18:50] offices, the hoods and I always

[1:18:53] ask the question. Police

[1:18:57] officers coming today.

[1:18:58] I t's

[1:19:00] the offices because we're

[1:19:03] actually assigned one officer.

[1:19:06] One office the net. But we end

[1:19:09] up with full of bags.

[1:19:13] And I tell them.

[1:19:16] It is so so say that you all

[1:19:18] have

[1:19:19] to call back up 4.5.

[1:19:20] I don't see I tell him I don't

[1:19:24] see that many cruises it crams

[1:19:27] The beauty of pops doesn't stop

[1:19:29] with

[1:19:32] the children. They have become

[1:19:35] an inch of coal pot

[1:19:38] about kids world family.

[1:19:39] They do not just visit once

[1:19:43] a month and then disappear

[1:19:45] until the next month. They

[1:19:46] have participated in that

[1:19:47] annual trunk or treat. We also

[1:19:48] had a day of fun in the day of

[1:19:50] fun was really fun. They

[1:19:53] brought the horses they wrote

[1:19:54] the Cayman. They brought the

[1:19:57] Dick staying what you see now

[1:19:59] that Dick

[1:20:02] that Mustang and Camaro and the

[1:20:03] police officer

[1:20:04] who had that car. Police

[1:20:05] officers came to me and say you

[1:20:08] know what he'll make nobody

[1:20:09] touches cop I know that

[1:20:12] I mean to tell you it was

[1:20:15] Shannon. It was said,

[1:20:16] they said do me a favor.

[1:20:19] Take-home kids over there and

[1:20:21] then put the hand.

[1:20:23] I said now you want to get me

[1:20:24] in trouble and this in no

[1:20:28] please do it. So that's exactly

[1:20:31] what media but

[1:20:34] the bottom and was. He had

[1:20:35] a spray bottle and awake.

[1:20:38] So when they finished he got

[1:20:41] his spray bottle and his red.

[1:20:44] And they

[1:20:47] did bass the cooling helmet

[1:20:49] giveaway the officers there was

[1:20:53] a grant and plat for the grant

[1:20:54] and they were

[1:20:56] able to get the grant. So every

[1:20:59] one of the p k students last

[1:21:03] Christmas got bass tickles

[1:21:04] and the helm and also

[1:21:04] they've done the car seat

[1:21:06] giveaway because that too yeah

[1:21:09] parents it increased the lotion

[1:21:11] did not have custody. They

[1:21:11] statement maps. They just

[1:21:14] didn't caught just in the seats

[1:21:16] so

[1:21:18] we had the giveaway also they

[1:21:21] are at all about the pk

[1:21:24] graduations cheering our

[1:21:27] children on and

[1:21:28] there is this. There's this a

[1:21:30] stash closet. They have it the

[1:21:32] station. They fenced up in the

[1:21:33] stash clouds it and bring it to

[1:21:36] the school as well. So dep

[1:21:40] presence, their presence.

[1:21:42] Cnn's a strong message

[1:21:44] that police offices aren't only

[1:21:48] bear when something goes wrong.

[1:21:51] They also there to celebrate

[1:21:54] with us point everything is

[1:21:54] right. Our parents over the

[1:21:58] years its share how meaningful

[1:22:01] this program has been with them

[1:22:02] too. They have see it

[1:22:03] that their children come home

[1:22:06] excited to talk with them about

[1:22:09] the officer friends.

[1:22:10] The pops

[1:22:13] program has strengthen the

[1:22:14] connection between kids world

[1:22:17] and our Police Department.

[1:22:20] It has fostered a sense up

[1:22:24] partnership. We at

[1:22:24] kids world, a grateful to the

[1:22:27] dedicated offices who make 10

[1:22:31] children. Each month

[1:22:33] and then some.

[1:22:34] They show up eager to connect

[1:22:36] and that commitment is truly

[1:22:39] making a lasting impressed

[1:22:43] impression. On behalf of

[1:22:46] kids world's kids staff

[1:22:47] families

[1:22:50] I would like to say. Thank you

[1:22:53] city councilmember Debora Feig

[1:22:56] Sanders again sheep Holloway

[1:22:57] sergeant Beatty

[1:23:00] officers murdered though when

[1:23:02] caught and others or the

[1:23:05] support and for believing in

[1:23:07] the of connection

[1:23:10] together we are making a

[1:23:13] difference. One preschooler and

[1:23:16] one positive experience

[1:23:17] at a Ted. At this 10 I would

[1:23:20] like to bama whites to come up.

[1:23:48] We have something for each of.

[1:23:51] The City Council members and

[1:23:54] what you get your bag.

[1:24:14] >> over here, yes.

[1:24:15] >> That 2 young ladies is

[1:24:19] sporting the 2 Vaness those are

[1:24:22] my 2 teachers vpk.

[1:24:29] And we want to

[1:24:36] group picture with these as

[1:24:39] >> I has said it all, but again

[1:24:43] greetings from imagination

[1:24:46] station preschool.

[1:24:48] Like a parent

[1:24:51] it warms the heart to see your

[1:24:51] children are

[1:24:52] students social and emotional

[1:24:52] growth florish their

[1:24:55] interaction with these officers

[1:24:59] built trust

[1:25:00] memories

[1:25:01] Mark's curiosity and lots of

[1:25:03] conversation. One specific

[1:25:04] interaction vividly recall was

[1:25:06] one of the officers, pushing

[1:25:07] one of the children on the

[1:25:11] swing. I don't think he

[1:25:12] realized that

[1:25:13] his gym workout was spot on.

[1:25:15] After about 3 pushes I'm not

[1:25:16] sure if it was the officer's

[1:25:19] physical strength. The fight

[1:25:20] and the child. But the child

[1:25:23] and the swing seat started to

[1:25:24] separate. But the officer and

[1:25:27] a split second caught the child

[1:25:29] and the world of a preschool.

[1:25:31] The lesson plan is only on

[1:25:34] paper because this was a

[1:25:35] perfect description

[1:25:38] of a trust lesson. Really we

[1:25:38] again would like to thank

[1:25:40] council member Debora fix

[1:25:42] Sanders for your shared vision.

[1:25:44] I'm building bridges between

[1:25:46] law enforcement and our

[1:25:49] youngest citizens and again

[1:25:50] officers and council members.

[1:25:53] Thank you and we're grateful

[1:25:57] for you and your service.

[1:26:03] >> Both of us would like group

[1:26:06] pitchers with just shirts, you

[1:26:09] know make sure you send it to

[1:26:12] Jackie.

[1:26:16] Not now me go.

[1:26:22] Know that this is about to get

[1:26:25] council member Vincent.

[1:26:27] We have one of the I'm sorry go

[1:26:27] ahead.

[1:26:28] Good afternoon. My name is Nora

[1:26:29] Brock and I've been with the

[1:26:31] Police Department for almost 11

[1:26:31] years. Currently signed a

[1:26:32] community service division and

[1:26:35] avert been participating in the

[1:26:36] pops program at imagination

[1:26:36] station preschool since the

[1:26:37] beginning of this year

[1:26:39] participating in this program

[1:26:40] is honestly one of the most

[1:26:42] rewarding part of my job.

[1:26:43] It's a chance to connect with

[1:26:46] young members of our community

[1:26:46] and a fun positive and relaxed

[1:26:49] environment. Kids at their age

[1:26:49] are still forming ideas about

[1:26:52] the world around them by

[1:26:52] playing with them not just

[1:26:55] talking at them. We show the

[1:26:56] police officers

[1:26:59] are approachable kind and safe.

[1:26:59] We're not just

[1:27:00] people the scene emergencies

[1:27:01] were part of their community

[1:27:03] too. These children are gaining

[1:27:03] trust and learning that the

[1:27:04] police officers are here to

[1:27:07] help those small moments of

[1:27:07] connection MAY shape how they

[1:27:10] view law enforcement for years

[1:27:10] to come. Pops isn't just about

[1:27:12] playing on a playground.

[1:27:12] It's about planting seeds of

[1:27:15] trust building relationships

[1:27:16] and strengthening the bond

[1:27:17] between police and community

[1:27:19] starting with our very youngest

[1:27:20] citizens. Thank you all for

[1:27:21] supporting programs like this,

[1:27:22] they MAY seem small but they

[1:27:25] have a very big impact. Thank

[1:27:28] you. Thank you.

[1:27:34] Good afternoon council members.

[1:27:35] >> My name is Earth when I've

[1:27:37] been with the city St.

[1:27:38] Petersburg Police Department

[1:27:39] for over 2 decades. I'm also a

[1:27:42] veteran of the United States

[1:27:43] Army with the 26 years, a

[1:27:44] service. Thank you for the

[1:27:47] opportunity to speak about the

[1:27:47] program that's shaping both

[1:27:51] parts and communities. This

[1:27:51] program brings

[1:27:52] together our youngest learners

[1:27:54] community law enforcement

[1:27:54] officers in a way that builds

[1:27:58] understanding respect trust and

[1:28:01] air. In the very

[1:28:04] beginning when children sees

[1:28:05] officers, 9 uniforms but has

[1:28:06] been tur's helpers and friends.

[1:28:09] It changes the way to view

[1:28:11] safety and community service

[1:28:14] for the rest of their lives.

[1:28:14] The program those more than

[1:28:17] 2 children it strengthens the

[1:28:17] bond between families the

[1:28:20] preschool and those who protect

[1:28:21] us. It reminds all young once

[1:28:23] that leadership is by caring

[1:28:25] for others and that every act

[1:28:28] of service. No matter how small

[1:28:30] makes a difference. Together we

[1:28:31] are helping too not just grow

[1:28:32] better students but better

[1:28:32] citizens neighbors and future

[1:28:36] leaders. Thank you for your

[1:28:39] support. Thank you.

[1:28:48] >> And some are fixed centers.

[1:28:49] Thank you again I just want to

[1:28:49] say thank you, but I also want

[1:28:50] the other men and women in view

[1:28:52] to place to do so that we can

[1:28:55] acknowledge you as well.

[1:29:03] As we always have so much fun

[1:29:03] whenever we're there and you

[1:29:06] always show up so again.

[1:29:07] Thank you, thank you, thank

[1:29:08] you to follow is not here

[1:29:10] because he did not have to say

[1:29:13] yes, but he did so I am so

[1:29:14] grateful for you I'm so

[1:29:15] grateful for missed out their

[1:29:18] Marine is Jackie that Deeks

[1:29:19] enough of your children

[1:29:19] to want to give them positive

[1:29:22] experiences with our St.

[1:29:25] Petersburg Police Department so

[1:29:27] thank you so for the parents

[1:29:28] as well so I do appreciate that

[1:29:29] thank you chair, thank you.

[1:29:29] Councilmember given thank you

[1:29:30] chair and thank you to my

[1:29:31] colleague for bringing this

[1:29:31] forward thank you MISS Laying,

[1:29:33] thank you so much MS. Williams

[1:29:37] for being here good to see MS.

[1:29:40] Vicki. And

[1:29:45] it's so nice to see the kids

[1:29:45] here.

[1:29:46] I am. Anytime I get to see

[1:29:47] positive rapport being created

[1:29:48] amongst our police officers and

[1:29:51] children in our community.

[1:29:52] I had the opportunity

[1:29:52] park walk and talk with

[1:29:55] sergeant Matthews and a couple

[1:29:56] of rcs owes this past week

[1:29:58] through Jordan Park and one of

[1:30:01] the things that I noticed was

[1:30:03] that we had a group of kids

[1:30:04] who were willing to speak to

[1:30:07] police officers to approach the

[1:30:08] police officers without fear or

[1:30:11] intimidation. And then there

[1:30:12] was the group

[1:30:12] of kids who did not want to

[1:30:13] approach the officer because

[1:30:14] there were adults standing

[1:30:17] behind them saying don't talk

[1:30:19] to them.

[1:30:20] This Lane, thank you MISS

[1:30:23] Williams, thank you, thank you,

[1:30:24] thank you to all of the

[1:30:27] educators in the different

[1:30:27] preschool directors who have

[1:30:30] opened their doors. So that we

[1:30:32] can Foster truss

[1:30:33] and we can work to prevent

[1:30:34] crime because I believe that

[1:30:36] when you have proactive

[1:30:39] measures like programs like

[1:30:42] pops. These proactive measures

[1:30:43] help to combat crime

[1:30:44] because now you have children

[1:30:46] who trust our officers they see

[1:30:50] our officers as resources

[1:30:51] in this community

[1:30:51] as people who can be trusted

[1:30:54] mentors and so I think the men

[1:30:55] and women in blue

[1:30:56] who sacrificed their lives who

[1:30:57] put their lives on the line

[1:30:59] every day you're not just

[1:31:00] raising your children but

[1:31:01] you're raising the villains and

[1:31:02] I thank you so much because it

[1:31:03] takes a village to raise a

[1:31:06] child. Thank you so much chair.

[1:31:11] >> White who just want to

[1:31:14] quickly say thank you to MISS

[1:31:17] Williams.

[1:31:18] It's letting up.

[1:31:19] All of our officers and cpd

[1:31:21] representation from Saint Pete

[1:31:24] pd this is awesome update so

[1:31:25] happy to see the

[1:31:26] work that's being done. I'm

[1:31:26] just going to stop there

[1:31:27] because everybody said it so

[1:31:28] I'm not going to hit the repeat

[1:31:31] button but says the massive big

[1:31:31] thank you and thanks for the

[1:31:32] continued working looking

[1:31:33] forward to seeing some more

[1:31:34] kids next year when we get

[1:31:37] another update. Thank you so

[1:31:39] much.

[1:31:41] >> Okay we're going to move in

[1:31:43] 2 d 7 an update from the von

[1:31:43] Miller, a local children's

[1:31:46] author and I'm gonna turn it

[1:31:49] over to

[1:31:50] councilmember fix Sanders for

[1:31:51] this one too.

[1:31:51] Thank you I wanted to bring a

[1:31:52] lot of good news the day

[1:31:53] everybody and so it also gives

[1:31:55] me honor to introduce is young

[1:31:56] man who has been quite busy.

[1:31:58] You know we always think about

[1:32:00] our young men and what they

[1:32:01] don't do what I just want to

[1:32:03] showcase and celebrate this

[1:32:04] young man young man for

[1:32:06] everything he has done. He

[1:32:09] wrote his first book at 11

[1:32:10] years old and he has a book

[1:32:11] series he has different animals

[1:32:13] and I'm going to let him talk

[1:32:17] about MISTER Taking the Todd

[1:32:17] clock. But I want

[1:32:21] us to celebrate. This success

[1:32:22] is in the positive

[1:32:23] energy in the positive

[1:32:25] experiences that our young men

[1:32:26] in our teens bring to us now

[1:32:29] he's no longer teen Devine

[1:32:31] around you. Currently I'm

[1:32:33] 23. He's 23 Stabenow in to help

[1:32:36] with just that long and I was

[1:32:39] introduced to him but MS.

[1:32:40] Author Ian Williams, who

[1:32:42] actually help showcase the

[1:32:43] divine because we had him come

[1:32:43] in read his book to some of our

[1:32:46] children and he's going to tell

[1:32:47] you how many books he has and

[1:32:50] what he's been doing. And we

[1:32:52] were successful in getting him

[1:32:55] in the rays activity book so he

[1:32:55] has really really really been

[1:32:56] visible in I'm so proud of

[1:32:57] divine so I want to make sure

[1:33:00] that you also just why I was so

[1:33:03] proud

[1:33:04] of his accomplishments, MR.

[1:33:04] Miller.

[1:33:05] Good afternoon everyone.

[1:33:06] Thank you so much for allowing

[1:33:06] me to be here with you all

[1:33:09] today. It's a pleasure and an

[1:33:11] honor to speak in front of all

[1:33:12] City Council members that

[1:33:14] really warms my heart to see

[1:33:16] family. Friends and supporters

[1:33:17] of my work, I've known as the

[1:33:20] perfect Sanders for quite a

[1:33:21] while now some saw 2020.

[1:33:23] Around the starting a campaign

[1:33:25] to help other black authors

[1:33:26] also assisting and providing

[1:33:28] books to children in the area.

[1:33:31] I'm truly thankful for support

[1:33:32] as well

[1:33:32] as community support as I

[1:33:34] succeeded with a goal of mine.

[1:33:35] For those of you don't know why

[1:33:37] I'm my name is the von Miller.

[1:33:38] I was born and raised in St.

[1:33:39] Petersburg Florida. Ever since

[1:33:42] I was a young kid I loved

[1:33:44] reading books before I was born

[1:33:45] my mom would read to me was in

[1:33:48] her womb which our tribute to

[1:33:51] my love of reading. Eventually

[1:33:52] as a young child and I was in

[1:33:52] preschool elementary, start to

[1:33:54] write my own little books based

[1:33:56] on the stories and world that I

[1:33:58] would gravitate towards on

[1:33:59] television books, various other

[1:34:01] media. Eventually got to the

[1:34:04] point of my elementary school

[1:34:07] years but I was writing and

[1:34:08] drawing so much but I would

[1:34:11] start writing 100 page stories.

[1:34:12] Always share them with my

[1:34:13] friends, they're always a lot

[1:34:13] of by them because I was always

[1:34:14] seen with a notebook in my

[1:34:15] hand, someone suggested to my

[1:34:19] mother but I should think about

[1:34:22] having a book published.

[1:34:22] Entry school. We have a

[1:34:24] substitute teacher name is

[1:34:27] Linda. Mobley that turned out

[1:34:27] to also be an author. I was

[1:34:29] super excited to hear that and

[1:34:30] I eventually told that I like

[1:34:32] to write as well. She

[1:34:33] eventually connected me with an

[1:34:34] author of hers in Vernon

[1:34:36] County. And I presented him

[1:34:36] with the idea of MISTER

[1:34:38] Typically talk clock which

[1:34:40] became a series about a

[1:34:40] right-wing both clock, let's

[1:34:43] read and talk time as you can

[1:34:47] see areas right here.

[1:34:50] So not too soon after, I'm not

[1:34:51] from the Spalding another

[1:34:53] children's author, this plane,

[1:34:55] the publishing process and help

[1:34:58] me to find a publisher

[1:34:58] published my first book, MR.

[1:35:01] Tiffany talk look tonight, MR.

[1:35:02] Clarke at the age of 11 Apr. 24

[1:35:03] team. The original book will be

[1:35:04] followed up with 4 more books

[1:35:07] before I graduated high school.

[1:35:12] Series I wanted to try

[1:35:14] something different which

[1:35:17] eventually became my first and

[1:35:17] on both of us can't t and off

[1:35:18] the liberation of voucher.

[1:35:21] This book originates from 6th

[1:35:21] grade we had a lesson on

[1:35:23] figurative language and the one

[1:35:24] that I gravitated towards was

[1:35:27] alliteration so I felt that it

[1:35:27] was such

[1:35:30] a playful and fun language.

[1:35:31] So I decided to write an alert

[1:35:33] of sentence for every letter of

[1:35:33] the alphabet and eventually

[1:35:34] that process is what led me

[1:35:35] into writing the story of this

[1:35:38] bus driver, hoping these 3

[1:35:38] zeroes I see here

[1:35:39] journey back home. This was my

[1:35:42] first book to be published on

[1:35:43] my own publishing company Petra

[1:35:46] novels. Another fun fact, my

[1:35:48] editor for this book also

[1:35:50] edited for the hunger games.

[1:35:51] When I was an infant I was

[1:35:51] diagnosed with severe asthma

[1:35:53] which caused me to be in and

[1:35:55] out of the hospital constantly

[1:35:59] because of doctors and nurses

[1:35:59] were always there for me.

[1:36:00] I wanted to give back to the

[1:36:01] hospital and whenever I did a

[1:36:01] book signing part of the

[1:36:02] proceeds would always go to

[1:36:06] John Hopkins all Children's

[1:36:07] Hospital

[1:36:07] and benefit of awesome.

[1:36:08] Something that was important to

[1:36:09] me than ever that a book

[1:36:12] signing was always giving back

[1:36:16] to the hospital. At the age of

[1:36:16] 17. I partnered up with

[1:36:17] Chile's for the good news for

[1:36:18] the good cause initiative we're

[1:36:20] 20% of the proceeds will go to

[1:36:21] John Hopkins all Children's

[1:36:24] Hospital from dined at the

[1:36:24] restaurant. And last year I

[1:36:26] have the pleasure of continuing

[1:36:28] to invest in the lives of

[1:36:30] children Dawkins all Children's

[1:36:31] Hospital. So is able to do a

[1:36:33] live read a lot of my book that

[1:36:37] was broadcast at the patients

[1:36:37] and hospital and during that

[1:36:38] event I donated money to the

[1:36:39] hospital as well. Continuing on

[1:36:42] with my impact we have actually

[1:36:43] had imagined twenty-twenty

[1:36:44] children's stories a campaign

[1:36:45] to help end the African

[1:36:46] American authors during the

[1:36:50] rise of the hashtag black lives

[1:36:50] matters movement.

[1:36:53] Raise over $2020 and donated

[1:36:54] the books purchased a local

[1:36:55] elementary schools with in St.

[1:36:56] Petersburg Florida. Received a

[1:36:57] wonderful community support to

[1:36:58] this initiative, including from

[1:37:01] us to perfect Sanders where we

[1:37:04] first got connected.

[1:37:07] In NOVEMBER of 2021 got to

[1:37:08] assist Magic Johnson Marlo

[1:37:09] Hampton with their Thanksgiving

[1:37:09] events they help to feed our

[1:37:12] local community in St.

[1:37:13] Petersburg Florida.

[1:37:16] In 2021. I partnered up with

[1:37:16] the Tampa Bay rays and

[1:37:19] participated in the reading

[1:37:22] program reading with the race

[1:37:22] during that here. I read my

[1:37:23] books love virtually, and it

[1:37:26] was shared on the rays website

[1:37:28] on their socials that same year

[1:37:29] a few of my books were seen on

[1:37:30] display at Tropicana Field and

[1:37:33] the reading with the reception.

[1:37:36] Those even highlighted

[1:37:36] and the Tampa Bay times

[1:37:39] newspapers in education with

[1:37:40] the Tampa Bay rays. As of

[1:37:41] publication highlight of my

[1:37:42] first book work has also been

[1:37:45] published in the Tampa Bay rays

[1:37:46] magazine inside pitch. In 2022,

[1:37:49] the rays assisted me in giving

[1:37:50] back to the Ronald McDonald

[1:37:51] House during the holiday

[1:37:54] season. Since 2023. I've been

[1:37:54] the opening reader for

[1:37:56] in-person reading with the

[1:37:57] reasons as I read alongside

[1:38:01] Tampa Bay rays players. One of

[1:38:02] the readings my book was even

[1:38:02] translated in sign language so

[1:38:05] everyone could join the story.

[1:38:07] And 2020 for 2025

[1:38:08] had the honor of being a judge

[1:38:08] for the regional spelling bee

[1:38:11] sponsored by the Tampa Bay

[1:38:14] rays. A

[1:38:15] few other recognitions

[1:38:16] and athletes have had during my

[1:38:19] include the following. In APRIL

[1:38:20] twenty-twenty myself my

[1:38:20] book MR. Took the top clock,

[1:38:23] the magic library was

[1:38:23] highlighted in a promo

[1:38:24] for has but stories which was

[1:38:27] an initiative created by

[1:38:30] actresses Jennifer Garner and

[1:38:31] Amy Adams which celebrities

[1:38:31] would read books on social

[1:38:32] media to raise money for

[1:38:35] children that don't have access

[1:38:35] to meals during my team.

[1:38:37] I've also received letters from

[1:38:38] barack and Michelle obama well,

[1:38:38] a middle school after they

[1:38:41] heard and learned about me as a

[1:38:43] young children's author.

[1:38:44] And finally I became a sunshine

[1:38:46] about Sir for the city of St.

[1:38:49] Petersburg because of my work

[1:38:52] in the community. Thank you so

[1:38:52] much to my mom and died for all

[1:38:55] their support and my other

[1:38:56] journey truly thankful to

[1:38:58] everyone who supported me over

[1:38:59] the years. Also thank you so

[1:39:02] much to GOD. I'm incredibly

[1:39:03] grateful that I get to share

[1:39:03] stories with children and

[1:39:04] families. I'm incredibly

[1:39:05] touched and moved by the sauna

[1:39:06] here today. Of course happy

[1:39:09] National book month everyone.

[1:39:13] Thank you.

[1:39:16] All the outside we actually

[1:39:19] have a few gifts for all the

[1:39:21] City Council members here.

[1:39:22] And of course we also have a

[1:39:24] very special gift for that's

[1:39:30] terrific Sanders as well thank

[1:40:04] >> Both the van while we're

[1:40:05] getting those handed out I just

[1:40:06] wanted to quickly just they won

[1:40:08] thank you for the update and 2.

[1:40:11] It's pretty a pretty incredible

[1:40:14] what you've achieved. At 11

[1:40:17] years old.

[1:40:19] I'm not sure I read a

[1:40:22] full book yet rather than rent.

[1:40:25] Rather than written one, and so

[1:40:28] just what an accomplishment and

[1:40:30] to see the growth and what

[1:40:31] you've done over that if you're

[1:40:37] looking for Smith's affair.

[1:40:40] Just so proud of everything

[1:40:41] that

[1:40:42] that you've achieved and you've

[1:40:44] done and can't wait to see

[1:40:47] what's in store next whether

[1:40:48] it's a new

[1:40:48] book or the next iteration of

[1:40:49] one of the books but thank you

[1:40:51] so much for coming and sharing

[1:40:52] your story and all the

[1:40:52] successes and we're wishing you

[1:40:53] the best of luck you can't wait

[1:40:57] to hear what comes next man,

[1:41:00] thank you so much.

[1:41:05] Okay council members we're

[1:41:06] going to move into

[1:41:09] new business for the day.

[1:41:12] We're going to go to

[1:41:15] g want to referral to hers from

[1:41:15] council member driskell.

[1:41:16] Thank you chair for this new

[1:41:17] business item I m.

[1:41:18] Respectfully requesting or

[1:41:19] referral to the health energy

[1:41:20] resilience and sustainability

[1:41:23] Committee for a discussion on a

[1:41:23] new citywide

[1:41:25] energy efficiency and clean

[1:41:26] energy initiative, providing

[1:41:29] cost savings to in reducing

[1:41:31] energy consumption for St.

[1:41:32] Petersburg residents to add to

[1:41:33] that I just want to make it

[1:41:35] clear that this is something

[1:41:38] that I see having a discussion

[1:41:40] on.

[1:41:42] >> Panic in parallel with the

[1:41:44] discussion about municipal

[1:41:47] electric. So it's not an or

[1:41:50] it's an a and.

[1:41:51] So I just wanted to clarify

[1:41:53] that in case anyone was

[1:41:53] wondering if this is a

[1:41:57] suggestion of an alternative.

[1:42:00] It is not

[1:42:01] and this is I mean

[1:42:03] we can have the committee

[1:42:05] discussion and with more

[1:42:08] detail. But this is along the

[1:42:11] same lines of.

[1:42:12] The rebates

[1:42:15] that we've we've done for and

[1:42:16] low flow toilets things like

[1:42:19] that in the past and then maven

[1:42:20] is working on on

[1:42:23] and insulation initiative that

[1:42:25] I think will be very

[1:42:26] interesting to add to that

[1:42:29] conversation. So with that I

[1:42:32] move approval.

[1:42:35] >> Thank you chair, so

[1:42:36] councilmember Driscoll I was

[1:42:39] curious I had a one-on-one

[1:42:40] earlier this

[1:42:42] week with maven well one on for

[1:42:44] I guess it was with MAY even

[1:42:47] about the new energy roadmap

[1:42:49] Grant

[1:42:50] and so you know I've seen your

[1:42:51] new business item obviously

[1:42:53] before that and then I had this

[1:42:56] meeting and so I was just kind

[1:42:59] of curious about

[1:43:04] the intersection between.

[1:43:04] Those 2 programs how they might

[1:43:05] work together is. There could

[1:43:06] be a conversation including

[1:43:08] maybe an update about how

[1:43:09] that's

[1:43:10] going at the time just because.

[1:43:11] >> There's a lot of different

[1:43:14] initiatives going and I think

[1:43:15] that this one is

[1:43:16] going to move pretty quickly.

[1:43:18] No funding needed from the city

[1:43:19] of chief Pete, but a lot of

[1:43:20] engagement with the city of

[1:43:21] Saint Pete specifically our

[1:43:23] residents and our business

[1:43:24] communities. So we're

[1:43:25] very excited about that and I

[1:43:26] just want to make sure that

[1:43:27] we're not duplicating efforts

[1:43:30] gifts. If there was some

[1:43:33] synergies between that. Terrify

[1:43:35] me absolutely.

[1:43:38] Thank you well.

[1:43:39] And I do have the perhaps the

[1:43:42] same kind of meeting. Scheduled

[1:43:45] for for next week to learn

[1:43:49] more about that. But in in in

[1:43:52] some initial communication.

[1:43:54] It was agreed and identified as

[1:43:57] something that can all come

[1:44:00] together. So

[1:44:01] rather than having a million

[1:44:04] different programs out there I

[1:44:06] want to see how my is can can

[1:44:07] synergize with what they're

[1:44:10] working on. Though this would

[1:44:13] all and if.

[1:44:17] We have an ideal situation will

[1:44:18] talk

[1:44:19] about all of that in the same

[1:44:19] meeting.

[1:44:20] Okay all right so you would be

[1:44:22] planning and obviously

[1:44:23] recognize you

[1:44:25] haven't had that meeting yet.

[1:44:26] You would be planning on having

[1:44:27] as a comprehensive

[1:44:27] conversation. Okay that is

[1:44:30] correct okay all right, thank

[1:44:33] you.

[1:44:36] >> We have a motion a second on

[1:44:37] g one seeing is no other

[1:44:37] council members wishing to

[1:44:40] speak or could you please she

[1:44:40] for boating councilmember

[1:44:41] sleaze and your votes seems all

[1:44:44] present council members a vote

[1:44:47] a clerk please telling announce

[1:44:48] the vote.

[1:44:50] If your motion to approve

[1:44:53] agenda item g one passes

[1:44:54] unions. Ok, thank you.

[1:44:54] G to assure him once.

[1:44:56] Thank you chair, my item.

[1:44:59] I think most of you know the

[1:45:00] public records act covers

[1:45:00] virtually all state and local

[1:45:01] governments and basically the

[1:45:02] goal is to have transparency in

[1:45:05] government so recently I had a

[1:45:08] public records request and I

[1:45:10] thought it would be good to

[1:45:11] have a conversation and how we

[1:45:13] handle public record requests

[1:45:14] in general and understand the

[1:45:15] processes involved so with that

[1:45:19] being said I respect fully

[1:45:20] request a referral to

[1:45:20] the public services and

[1:45:21] infrastructure Committee or

[1:45:22] other relevant Committee for a

[1:45:23] comprehensive report on the

[1:45:25] city's procedures for complying

[1:45:26] with public records requests

[1:45:29] from initiation to fulfillment

[1:45:32] and with that I so move.

[1:45:32] >> We have a

[1:45:33] motion is second on g 2.

[1:45:33] Seeing is no other council

[1:45:35] members wishing to speak clerk

[1:45:38] please could you please open

[1:45:39] machine for voting. Council

[1:45:42] members because any votes it

[1:45:45] seems all present

[1:45:46] council members have voted

[1:45:47] clerk please start announce the

[1:45:47] vote.

[1:45:48] If you have a motion to approve

[1:45:51] agenda item g 2 passes.

[1:45:51] Okay we're gonna go to g 3

[1:45:52] we're gonna go back to council

[1:45:52] member driskell.

[1:45:55] Thank you with this one we have

[1:45:58] a resolution that is attached

[1:46:01] and so I'm actually introducing

[1:46:04] that resolution tonight for

[1:46:07] today. This one is.

[1:46:10] A little story behind it.

[1:46:13] You know earlier this year and

[1:46:16] I was really I was inspired by

[1:46:16] the

[1:46:17] City Council's Salt Lake City

[1:46:20] who past an ordinance to adopt

[1:46:23] additional officials city

[1:46:29] flags.

[1:46:32] >> And.

[1:46:33] To be fun to various times of

[1:46:33] the year. And I thought that

[1:46:36] that was. This is an

[1:46:39] incredibly.

[1:46:39] Bold move that they

[1:46:42] made because it was 10 hours

[1:46:43] before their state Legislature

[1:46:46] passed a ban on specific flex.

[1:46:51] And so having that in the back

[1:46:54] of my

[1:46:54] mind and then in JUNE. Our

[1:46:56] wonderful Johnny in the

[1:46:57] marketing department created a

[1:47:00] very special flag for pride

[1:47:03] month. That

[1:47:04] just flew off the shelves.

[1:47:07] I mean. I think we could have

[1:47:07] ordered twice as many Andrew,

[1:47:09] so wouldn't have had enough.

[1:47:10] It was so popular so well

[1:47:14] received an seeing the smiles

[1:47:14] on people's faces. With that

[1:47:17] flag was really quite touching.

[1:47:23] And a couple of months ago of

[1:47:26] course we had and.

[1:47:26] The

[1:47:28] array sure of our Street murals

[1:47:29] and of course everyone was

[1:47:32] talking about things that that

[1:47:36] we should do.

[1:47:40] I went to the

[1:47:42] administration with an idea

[1:47:45] because I said now now is the

[1:47:48] time to act on this

[1:47:51] and and so

[1:47:52] I brought the idea of having

[1:47:54] 2 additional city flags.

[1:47:57] Variations on the city flag to

[1:48:01] be brought forward.

[1:48:03] And I knew that we needed

[1:48:04] to work quickly and quietly

[1:48:05] because their levels of the

[1:48:08] government where they have a

[1:48:08] tendency to squash certain

[1:48:11] things in the dead of night and

[1:48:13] squash things

[1:48:13] as a work in progress. But the

[1:48:16] administration wanted to take a

[1:48:19] different approach and was not

[1:48:20] able to move quickly so I

[1:48:22] knew that I was going to be on

[1:48:23] my own with this without any

[1:48:27] city resources. But fortunately

[1:48:28] I have

[1:48:31] a lot of great people out there

[1:48:32] in the community who are

[1:48:38] interested in this and working

[1:48:38] My my

[1:48:40] wonderful legislative aide

[1:48:44] Brian. On this idea working

[1:48:46] with

[1:48:49] and and my friend and just said

[1:48:50] to love our

[1:48:51] community. The artist Andrea

[1:48:53] Palos working with your lives.

[1:48:54] He's got at the Woodson Museum

[1:48:57] and others who gave their input

[1:49:00] and worked with me too. Come up

[1:49:04] with ideas for the flags.

[1:49:04] There are 2 images

[1:49:08] of the flags that are included

[1:49:09] in the backup material.

[1:49:13] The harmony flag. It is of

[1:49:16] course and the flag that we

[1:49:17] that

[1:49:20] we used in JUNE this year.

[1:49:21] Replaced in the middle with

[1:49:22] our official city seal. So

[1:49:25] that's the main difference

[1:49:28] between the 2.

[1:49:29] The lines were just a just a

[1:49:32] little bit so that they would

[1:49:35] match. The history flag, which

[1:49:38] we wanted to be have a

[1:49:41] consistent design. And.

[1:49:44] Once Terry some of the.

[1:49:47] The idea and we worked on it

[1:49:48] too together and

[1:49:49] she said it was good, I knew I

[1:49:51] knew that we had a a winner

[1:49:52] with that one for the history

[1:49:55] flag. And again you'll see that

[1:49:56] the official city seal is in

[1:49:59] that. Now I do understand that

[1:50:03] the administration is working

[1:50:06] to.

[1:50:09] Working too. Get additional.

[1:50:12] Pride

[1:50:14] flags along with a new black

[1:50:15] history matters flag that would

[1:50:18] be given out. 2 residents from

[1:50:20] I think that was on the

[1:50:21] I think that's been

[1:50:24] communicated as part of a list

[1:50:24] of ideas that the

[1:50:27] administration was considering.

[1:50:29] Yeah, I would have to check on

[1:50:32] that yeah. So those are like

[1:50:33] the ones that we give out.

[1:50:36] The the flags that I am

[1:50:37] bringing forward for

[1:50:38] your consideration today are

[1:50:39] the ones that would actually be

[1:50:42] flown at City facilities and

[1:50:45] certain times of the year.

[1:50:48] There are some who think that

[1:50:52] this might be a small thing.

[1:50:56] The flag of the city is a

[1:50:57] representation of its values.

[1:51:00] It really speaks to our

[1:51:02] identity. Our identity. It is

[1:51:03] seen as something that brings

[1:51:06] us together and gives everyone

[1:51:09] a sense of belonging.

[1:51:12] Seeing the response

[1:51:13] that I got having to having to

[1:51:16] work with quickly and quietly

[1:51:20] on this. And now sitting

[1:51:23] here and telling you.

[1:51:26] The City Council has received

[1:51:29] e-mails of support

[1:51:30] from equality Florida, Saint

[1:51:33] Pete pride. The woods and

[1:51:35] Museum tig live.

[1:51:39] The Tampa Bay lgbt chamber.

[1:51:39] And many many individuals

[1:51:42] who have expressed strong

[1:51:46] support. Adding these flags.

[1:51:50] As symbols of who we are in St.

[1:51:51] Petersburg.

[1:51:54] I'm really proud of the work

[1:51:57] that was done.

[1:52:00] By the community.

[1:52:01] For me it was just an idea I

[1:52:04] threw it out there. And people

[1:52:06] ran with it. And.

[1:52:08] Just the way that this came

[1:52:12] together really showed me.

[1:52:13] What a flag really means.

[1:52:16] And I hope that my colleagues

[1:52:19] will agree with me. And you'll

[1:52:22] join me in.

[1:52:25] Voting to pass this resolution.

[1:52:29] Which reads whereas the

[1:52:31] official flag of the city

[1:52:33] of St. Petersburg was adopted

[1:52:36] in 1927. And then redesigned in

[1:52:40] 1951 1984. And whereas the city

[1:52:41] should 5 variations on the

[1:52:44] official flag to represent a

[1:52:46] shared sense of local identity

[1:52:49] fostering a spirit of unity and

[1:52:52] belonging and whereas

[1:52:52] specifically the city should

[1:52:53] find the variation attached to

[1:52:54] this resolution as exhibit a to

[1:52:58] signify harmony among all

[1:52:59] in St. Petersburg.

[1:53:02] Whereas that variation should

[1:53:06] be known as the harmony flag

[1:53:06] and flown

[1:53:07] had city facilities at

[1:53:08] appropriate times of the year.

[1:53:11] And whereas specifically the

[1:53:12] city should also fly

[1:53:15] the variation attached to this

[1:53:15] resolution as exhibit b to

[1:53:16] signify the importance of

[1:53:19] history. And whereas that

[1:53:21] variation should be known as

[1:53:21] the history flag and flown at

[1:53:22] Citi field its facilities at

[1:53:25] appropriate times of the year.

[1:53:28] And now therefore be it

[1:53:29] resolved that the City Council

[1:53:32] this evening to use it for us.

[1:53:34] St. Petersburg Florida

[1:53:36] hereby request that the mayor 5

[1:53:37] variations on the official flag

[1:53:40] as described in the foregoing

[1:53:43] race idols.

[1:53:44] If this is passed today.

[1:53:46] The images will then be

[1:53:47] transferred to the marketing

[1:53:47] department to create these

[1:53:50] flags that would be flown Evers

[1:53:53] city facilities.

[1:53:54] The other flags that will be

[1:53:56] given out to everyone we're

[1:53:57] still we'll still be in

[1:54:00] progress so it doesn't change

[1:54:03] anything about that.

[1:54:07] I think that I want to say.

[1:54:07] Again I just think everyone

[1:54:10] who was a part of bringing this

[1:54:11] together to bring it forward

[1:54:13] and to all of those who have

[1:54:14] shown their support for this

[1:54:17] work. Thank you chair. Thank

[1:54:20] you.

[1:54:21] >> So we're going to want to

[1:54:22] put you on the spot, but I know

[1:54:25] you have to leave early or want

[1:54:26] to give you a chance if you

[1:54:27] linger for public comment, okay

[1:54:27] all right. We're going to

[1:54:30] public comment let's call to

[1:54:33] time please and Avila.

[1:54:35] >> Please go to either podium

[1:54:36] state your name and address for

[1:54:38] the record. We'll have 3

[1:54:42] minutes to dress Council.

[1:54:45] MR. Vila had to

[1:54:48] they have.

[1:54:51] Good afternoon members. Thank

[1:54:55] you. I rise to speak in favor

[1:54:59] of the resolution offered.

[1:55:00] As g 3 and today's agenda and I

[1:55:00] speak today as a human and as a

[1:55:02] citizen. He's grateful for the

[1:55:04] people of our city.

[1:55:06] Thank you councilmember

[1:55:10] Driscoll for your leadership in

[1:55:10] bringing this

[1:55:11] resolution forward and today

[1:55:11] reminds me again of my why we

[1:55:14] are Saint Pete as we celebrated

[1:55:15] so many amazing humans and

[1:55:16] efforts and witnessed so much

[1:55:20] joy here in the chambers today.

[1:55:22] Thank you all for that symbols

[1:55:24] and cities and communities are

[1:55:27] crucial because they embody

[1:55:29] shared values define collective

[1:55:33] identity and Foster belonging

[1:55:33] as acting. As powerful and

[1:55:36] communicative representations

[1:55:37] of who as a

[1:55:39] community we are and what we

[1:55:40] stand for these symbols

[1:55:41] transform abstract ideas into

[1:55:42] meaningful images and help

[1:55:42] create shared understandings of

[1:55:46] the community's history.

[1:55:47] PRESIDENT And future.

[1:55:48] I appreciate especially today's

[1:55:52] resolution that brings forward

[1:55:55] history and harmony together

[1:55:58] I recognize our city like many

[1:55:58] others have not always

[1:56:00] recognized Nora had both.

[1:56:03] Today's resolution is a moment,

[1:56:05] however of our city's

[1:56:07] acknowledgment. Our collective

[1:56:09] work together and of our

[1:56:12] aspirations. Of our cities

[1:56:15] tomorrow, a future rooted in

[1:56:16] our history. Celebrating our

[1:56:18] shared identity as a city that

[1:56:19] fosters unity and belonging and

[1:56:20] that does so in harmony and

[1:56:24] that is something truly unique

[1:56:25] and special to St. Petersburg

[1:56:26] I urge all City Council members

[1:56:29] to the favor of the resolution.

[1:56:32] Thank you.

[1:56:36] Thank u next season, next.

[1:56:37] Injury apologies. And Trevor.

[1:56:38] Mallory is go to a podium state

[1:56:39] your name and address for the

[1:56:42] record. We'll have 2 minutes to

[1:56:45] dress Council.

[1:56:59] >> I'm Andrea Paulus I live in

[1:57:00] greater Pinellas point

[1:57:02] and I have for 23 years.

[1:57:02] I'm a self-employed artist and

[1:57:04] are prepared or handling arc

[1:57:06] for most of the local museums

[1:57:09] like the Dolly the James mf and

[1:57:12] more I designed the flex

[1:57:13] thanks Geena.

[1:57:14] I'm in favor of approving them.

[1:57:17] I designed and led the team to

[1:57:19] paint the intersection at

[1:57:20] Central 25th 5 years ago.

[1:57:23] It was important to me to

[1:57:23] design these flags when the

[1:57:26] intersection was centered in

[1:57:27] erased. Our city is changing

[1:57:28] our country changes. And if we

[1:57:30] truly want to be called the

[1:57:32] city of the arch we need to

[1:57:33] support artists. We need to

[1:57:34] provide Foundation for

[1:57:37] individual artists not

[1:57:39] censorship. Art has power.

[1:57:42] Artist or documentarians art is

[1:57:44] a great communicator of culture

[1:57:45] in value. Artist in Saint Pete

[1:57:48] made this the city of the arch

[1:57:49] we have created

[1:57:52] the vibe. And we were here

[1:57:53] before the Dali expansion

[1:57:54] before the James before that

[1:57:57] you Hooley in fact Dale Tooley

[1:57:58] when he was in town

[1:58:00] and 2003 to get ready to have

[1:58:03] his first show at the mfa he

[1:58:03] told me the art scene here was

[1:58:07] so great. He ended up bringing

[1:58:10] us a museum. These

[1:58:13] 2 flags are uncomplicated their

[1:58:15] colors the history Fleck has

[1:58:17] read for bloodshed, black for

[1:58:17] heritage and green for

[1:58:20] abundance and hope for the

[1:58:23] future. That's what those

[1:58:24] colors mean the harmony flag

[1:58:25] has red for life orange for

[1:58:27] healing, yellow for sunlight

[1:58:29] green for nature blue for

[1:58:30] serenity and violet for spirit.

[1:58:34] The other colors represent

[1:58:36] people of color and genders

[1:58:36] there's nothing nefarious about

[1:58:39] any of these colors or the way

[1:58:41] that their range on the flag.

[1:58:44] As the current mayor wrote the

[1:58:45] 5 murals

[1:58:48] painted over were collaborative

[1:58:49] loving and transform the spaces

[1:58:52] that they were in. You can just

[1:58:52] ask Liz Cooper and Jorge viewed

[1:58:54] all from the museum. They lost

[1:58:54] their pattern on their

[1:58:57] intersection didn't have

[1:58:59] anything to

[1:58:59] do with politics. They resent

[1:59:02] represent all of us and they

[1:59:03] will continue

[1:59:06] to represent us in new ways.

[1:59:08] Nguyen resilient waste that's

[1:59:08] exactly what he said. He's

[1:59:09] flags are that Nguyen resilient

[1:59:11] way so personally and

[1:59:12] professionally. I will

[1:59:15] appreciate your support on

[1:59:18] this. Thank you. Thank you.

[1:59:22] >> Trevor Mallory here and

[1:59:25] I'm here in support of this

[1:59:26] line item. I just think this

[1:59:28] is a prime example of what

[1:59:31] practice what you preach right,

[1:59:34] we always say

[1:59:35] that we want Saint Pete.

[1:59:36] To be a seamless cities to

[1:59:38] mount a case that you're

[1:59:41] addressing stated for

[1:59:41] I'm sorry your dress. 45 a 1,

[1:59:45] 6, 3, South 3, 3, 7, 0, 5,

[1:59:48] Thank you for fun. So

[1:59:49] when we always say Saint Pete

[1:59:52] is a seamless city, this is the

[1:59:53] prime example of what that

[1:59:56] looks like these 2 flags

[1:59:58] represent so much history.

[2:00:01] That's under attack at this

[2:00:04] time. So COUNCILWOMAN Driscoll

[2:00:07] I appreciate you

[2:00:08] for your bonus in your

[2:00:12] strategic way of making this a

[2:00:15] seamless back action item.

[2:00:18] These flags represent not only.

[2:00:24] African Americans.

[2:00:25] But it represents

[2:00:28] a tremendous amount of citizens

[2:00:32] that need to see someone stand

[2:00:35] up and support them in this

[2:00:36] manner. And I definitely

[2:00:38] feel comfortable about the but

[2:00:42] history flag when you mention

[2:00:45] you work with this with Terry

[2:00:48] lipsey Scott who is a curator

[2:00:49] of the DR. Carter g

[2:00:49] Woodson african-american

[2:00:52] Museum. So for me to know that

[2:00:53] you took the time

[2:00:55] to collaborate with someone.

[2:00:58] That's we call a pillar in our

[2:00:58] african-american community to

[2:01:01] come up with this design.

[2:01:03] It shows your courage to me

[2:01:06] and to the community as well.

[2:01:08] I've always heard. In the

[2:01:10] community because I mean the

[2:01:12] community that and I want to

[2:01:13] say it that council member

[2:01:16] driskell doesn't care about the

[2:01:18] black community.

[2:01:21] When news hit the news. I got

[2:01:25] some phone calls that were

[2:01:25] in reverse now

[2:01:27] because you didn't have to do

[2:01:30] this and for you to take the

[2:01:32] time You said Salt Lake.

[2:01:34] So that means you did your

[2:01:37] research and you found a way to

[2:01:37] make this acceptable and I

[2:01:39] appreciate you for that and not

[2:01:40] only do I appreciate you for

[2:01:43] that but I appreciate all of

[2:01:46] you on this diet is because we

[2:01:49] say we are seeing Pete

[2:01:50] we are seeing the city. This

[2:01:51] will prove this to the

[2:01:52] community and the constituents

[2:01:55] that you are represent so thank

[2:01:58] you.

[2:02:03] Thank you.

[2:02:04] The last 2 speakers is Kendra

[2:02:05] darling, and Halloween, Please

[2:02:05] state your name address for the

[2:02:07] record you have 3 minutes to

[2:02:10] this Council.

[2:02:19] 8, 7, 3, Newton South.

[2:02:22] As stated my name is keandre

[2:02:23] darling. Today I speak is a

[2:02:24] 4th generation and order of St.

[2:02:26] Petersburg a proud descendant

[2:02:27] of the historic gas plant

[2:02:30] district. And a mother raising

[2:02:30] a now 9 year-old son in this

[2:02:33] city. First I want to say thank

[2:02:36] you to councilmember Gina

[2:02:39] Driscoll my councilmember

[2:02:40] for presenting this thought for

[2:02:43] resolution and for your

[2:02:43] leadership in ensuring that St.

[2:02:46] Petersburg continues to stand

[2:02:49] for

[2:02:50] unity inclusion and love.

[2:02:51] Recently our city watched as

[2:02:53] our beloved Street murals

[2:02:55] symbols belonging symbols of

[2:02:58] belonging and pride. We're

[2:02:59] sloppily

[2:03:02] spray painted over and a gross

[2:03:02] misuse of power

[2:03:06] by order of the governor.

[2:03:06] Those

[2:03:09] murals were not just art.

[2:03:12] They were reflections of our

[2:03:14] values. A message that everyone

[2:03:17] who lives works and plays

[2:03:20] in St. Petersburg is seen

[2:03:24] valued and welcome here.

[2:03:25] To say that their

[2:03:28] removal was about safety was

[2:03:30] not just disingenuous

[2:03:32] it was insulting. Every day

[2:03:33] residents here drive over

[2:03:36] potholes packed roads and

[2:03:40] fading cross walks.

[2:03:40] Yet somehow colorful murals

[2:03:43] celebrating unity were labeled

[2:03:45] as dangerous.

[2:03:48] Let's call it what it is a

[2:03:50] distraction from the real

[2:03:51] issues, a political stunt aimed

[2:03:54] at erasing what our city stands

[2:03:57] for.

[2:03:59] On this

[2:04:01] bright day in St. Petersburg

[2:04:03] this resolution reminds us that

[2:04:06] while pink can be stripped

[2:04:07] away.

[2:04:10] Our spirit cannot. The harmony

[2:04:13] flag in the history flag or

[2:04:14] more than designs.

[2:04:18] They represent who we are the

[2:04:20] harmony flag celebrates our

[2:04:21] diversity and reminds us that

[2:04:23] our differences make us

[2:04:26] stronger. The history flag

[2:04:29] grounds us in the struggles and

[2:04:31] triumphs that shape the city

[2:04:34] and ensure that we never forget

[2:04:35] how far we've come.

[2:04:38] I think this Council for

[2:04:42] standing up for what's right

[2:04:43] and I urge

[2:04:45] both the council and the mayor

[2:04:47] to keep finding bold in

[2:04:50] creative ways to resist hate

[2:04:52] and division

[2:04:53] in this city. Let us continue

[2:04:56] to show that St. Petersburg is

[2:04:59] a city where unity is our

[2:05:00] language where

[2:05:02] inclusion is our practice and

[2:05:05] where progress is our promise.

[2:05:06] And no executive order can

[2:05:10] change that. Thank you all.

[2:05:13] Thank you.

[2:05:16] Hi there. My name is Holly no

[2:05:17] 8, 1 one Placido

[2:05:17] a Northeast St. Petersburg

[2:05:19] pheben us 3, 3, 7, oh 04:00am I

[2:05:21] appreciate the opportunity to

[2:05:24] be here today. And it just

[2:05:27] unity and inclusion.

[2:05:31] Councilmember Givens

[2:05:33] said were asked a wonderful

[2:05:34] question of those 3 bright

[2:05:36] students that got to travel to

[2:05:37] Japan.

[2:05:38] And it was a really smart

[2:05:41] question. What did you have in

[2:05:43] common with those kids in

[2:05:46] Japan or with the cultural

[2:05:47] components of your tedder and I

[2:05:48] thought really it's a brilliant

[2:05:51] question and it's really really

[2:05:51] true.

[2:05:54] And so I stand up here before

[2:05:57] you today just as an ordinary

[2:05:58] Petersburg citizen, I have

[2:05:59] lived here sense. The early 2

[2:06:00] thousands in fact I think we

[2:06:04] bought our house in 1999.

[2:06:07] So 25 years. I love

[2:06:09] this town I love

[2:06:10] being here but I I think

[2:06:12] there's something really really

[2:06:15] important. We use words like

[2:06:19] unity and inclusion

[2:06:19] but we're not actually

[2:06:21] demonstrating unity include and

[2:06:22] inclusion because not

[2:06:26] everybody's included. And so I

[2:06:29] just want to suggest that.

[2:06:30] In this world

[2:06:34] today in our country in our

[2:06:34] cities. All across the

[2:06:35] country we see division and the

[2:06:37] stoking of in the framing of

[2:06:41] that division and I would just

[2:06:44] ask that week consider

[2:06:47] the actual meaning

[2:06:48] of unity and the actual the

[2:06:50] reason that we all live here in

[2:06:52] our wonderful town and the

[2:06:55] things that we actually have in

[2:06:58] common we're all citizens here.

[2:07:00] You know

[2:07:01] we enjoy beautiful, sunsets and

[2:07:03] the freedom to you know walk

[2:07:05] along the water's edge and all

[2:07:07] of the wonderful restaurants

[2:07:11] and there's so much in this

[2:07:14] town. In this city and

[2:07:17] I just feel like.

[2:07:18] >> The.

[2:07:18] You know terms harmony and

[2:07:21] history are not inclusive

[2:07:21] actually

[2:07:23] of everybody and in fact.

[2:07:25] I love our flag with just

[2:07:28] the St. Petersburg seal that

[2:07:28] was I guess most recently

[2:07:29] adopted are edited in 1984.

[2:07:31] So we just put that out there

[2:07:34] to that let's look at actual

[2:07:36] terminology and consider

[2:07:39] really whether or not it is

[2:07:41] inclusive unifying etc I love

[2:07:44] my neighbors and I want to see

[2:07:45] us all.

[2:07:48] You know link arms and we don't

[2:07:50] need to be called out for

[2:07:52] you know what we are in in one

[2:07:52] way shape or form why don't we

[2:07:53] just all say we live here in

[2:07:56] Saint Pete and were neighbors

[2:07:59] and that's I think enough.

[2:08:02] Thank you thank you.

[2:08:04] If you are speakers.

[2:08:04] We had 1, 1, to speak or worse

[2:08:05] is here. All right. All think

[2:08:06] Fonteyn once you enter into the

[2:08:07] meeting space please state your

[2:08:07] name and address for the record

[2:08:10] and you have 2 minutes to

[2:08:13] address to the council.

[2:08:17] Yes, so can you hear me, yes.

[2:08:25] My name is Paul fronting 36 to

[2:08:28] 22 Haines road.

[2:08:28] Magnolia Heights.

[2:08:29] I'm a game in St. Petersburg I

[2:08:33] was one of the coordinators of

[2:08:35] the sidewalk shocking event

[2:08:38] the day that the mural 25th in

[2:08:41] central was around.

[2:08:43] The emotion that

[2:08:46] we had that day was a mix of

[2:08:49] joy in being able to to bring

[2:08:50] callers back to the city.

[2:08:53] But also a lots of frustration

[2:08:56] and the angst.

[2:08:57] As we saw a very visible symbol

[2:09:00] of acceptance and love in Saint

[2:09:03] Pete disappear

[2:09:05] and I just want to say that I'm

[2:09:09] in favor of this resolution

[2:09:12] thank you COUNCILMAN Driscoll

[2:09:13] as a side note

[2:09:14] during that day I purchased 10.

[2:09:15] And gave flags that I was

[2:09:16] planning on bringing to

[2:09:19] businesses and Central Avenue

[2:09:20] to to put up.

[2:09:23] I think get to it because the

[2:09:24] event was so busy. So I decided

[2:09:28] to post on facebook to give

[2:09:31] away 10.

[2:09:33] Flags and I gave away all the

[2:09:34] flags too tall strangers

[2:09:37] there's no one that I knew and

[2:09:38] to my surprise.

[2:09:39] Almost half of the requests and

[2:09:42] I know it's a small sample of

[2:09:44] 10. But almost half

[2:09:47] 4 out of the 10 flags were

[2:09:50] requested by straight

[2:09:52] families. And I was very happy

[2:09:56] about that and it does surprise

[2:09:58] me so the flags

[2:10:00] that represent certain

[2:10:01] communities are important but

[2:10:02] also know that you know is that

[2:10:05] lgbt flag doesn't just

[2:10:08] represent people that

[2:10:09] our lgbtq it also represents

[2:10:10] those allies which I'd like to

[2:10:13] think are quite a large number

[2:10:14] in the city.

[2:10:16] I moved to Petersburg for years

[2:10:19] ago because of the visible

[2:10:20] symbols acceptance,

[2:10:22] the world a lot of my friends

[2:10:23] in Philadelphia said I can't

[2:10:26] believe you moving to Florida.

[2:10:27] And I said, but look,

[2:10:30] yeah there's a mural on the

[2:10:32] street with a rainbow flag, the

[2:10:35] City Hall raises the pride flag

[2:10:39] in JUNE. They're visible

[2:10:39] evidence acceptance

[2:10:40] and that was part of the reason

[2:10:41] that brought me here and has a

[2:10:43] real estate agent I bring a lot

[2:10:46] of lgbtq people

[2:10:47] into this city to relocate and

[2:10:50] part of my marketing is to show

[2:10:51] that is visible signs and I

[2:10:51] would love to have them back.

[2:10:54] I appreciate you listen to me

[2:10:56] today, thank you. Thank you.

[2:11:00] The council member hurt.

[2:11:03] Thank you chair. I

[2:11:04] I greatly appreciate the

[2:11:06] passion.

[2:11:07] That council member driskell

[2:11:10] brings and I appreciate the

[2:11:10] folks who came and talked today

[2:11:13] and they literally hundreds of

[2:11:15] of citizens who reached out.

[2:11:16] Over the past week. I will I

[2:11:19] will not be able to support

[2:11:22] this item and.

[2:11:25] And the reason very

[2:11:27] simply is

[2:11:30] we open this this meeting every

[2:11:31] week. But the pledge of

[2:11:34] allegiance in the last 2 words

[2:11:34] are for all and

[2:11:37] that flag like this body in the

[2:11:39] mayor's office represent the

[2:11:42] 280,000 people who are citizens

[2:11:42] of St. Petersburg we're a

[2:11:44] diverse group worst diverse it

[2:11:47] as as the rest of the country.

[2:11:47] And in the city you'll find all

[2:11:50] religions you'll find all

[2:11:53] races. You'll find a

[2:11:54] veterans you'll find wounded

[2:11:56] veterans you'll find folks in

[2:11:59] wheelchairs and we represent

[2:12:01] them all equally. It doesn't

[2:12:04] mean that we don't support.

[2:12:04] Parts of our community. More

[2:12:07] than others when necessary.

[2:12:07] And I appreciate candor

[2:12:10] darlings words about fighting

[2:12:11] boldly and we do that as a city

[2:12:14] but the identity of the city

[2:12:16] belongs to the 280,000 people

[2:12:17] who make up the city and that

[2:12:20] flag is a representation of

[2:12:22] that.

[2:12:24] So that the idea that we're

[2:12:24] that we're going to address

[2:12:27] current events and what

[2:12:27] happened with the murals in the

[2:12:28] streets have slowly week.

[2:12:30] We're going to find the right

[2:12:32] thing to do we're going to find

[2:12:33] the right statement to make.

[2:12:35] But the flag a St. Petersburg

[2:12:38] it is the identity of the body

[2:12:38] that

[2:12:41] is the government of St.

[2:12:44] Petersburg and it and it it

[2:12:45] needs to in my opinion be

[2:12:46] representative of all 280,000

[2:12:46] of us. So those are my thoughts

[2:12:49] Sir, thank you for your time.

[2:12:52] Thank you vice chair Harris.

[2:12:53] Thank you I like to also thank

[2:12:56] everyone who's reached out

[2:12:59] who's here

[2:13:01] and council member driskell for

[2:13:01] bringing this item.

[2:13:02] A couple weeks ago I am the

[2:13:03] council member that sits on the

[2:13:04] art advisory committee we had a

[2:13:05] joint

[2:13:05] meeting with the public arts

[2:13:06] commission to actually discuss

[2:13:08] ideas of how to respond to the

[2:13:12] state that the state could not

[2:13:15] come back turn around

[2:13:16] and take away from us

[2:13:17] and at that meeting just for

[2:13:17] those who MAY not know what the

[2:13:19] art advisory committee is for

[2:13:21] the public arts Commission

[2:13:24] there are lots of community.

[2:13:27] Members who are artists who

[2:13:29] know the space who have

[2:13:31] fantastic creative ideas,

[2:13:33] frankly I went there as the

[2:13:34] City Council member that's

[2:13:37] there for the art advisory

[2:13:40] committee. But I wanted to

[2:13:42] listen to them because they had

[2:13:43] a ton of ideas and at the end

[2:13:44] there was a whole Board of

[2:13:45] different things and how we can

[2:13:47] respond as a city and there was

[2:13:50] it was a collaborative process

[2:13:53] in terms of that meeting

[2:13:54] and from that meeting they were

[2:13:57] going to continue getting ideas

[2:13:58] and then talk about those ideas

[2:13:59] again at another committing so

[2:14:02] we could get all the input from

[2:14:05] these committees I know that

[2:14:06] councilmember Floyd is the

[2:14:07] council member who is assigned

[2:14:08] for the public arts Commission

[2:14:09] he wasn't there and I told them

[2:14:10] you you fortunately had a

[2:14:13] another you're traveling and

[2:14:14] couldn't be there because he

[2:14:15] would have definitely enjoyed

[2:14:19] being part of that meeting but.

[2:14:22] Having said that

[2:14:24] going back to having a response

[2:14:25] that the state cannot turn

[2:14:28] around and do what they did

[2:14:32] with the murals and

[2:14:33] I will say I don't like it.

[2:14:36] Now think anyone here like that

[2:14:37] to be clear

[2:14:40] and I think we also got a lot

[2:14:42] of criticism for weather.

[2:14:45] The mayor got criticism for the

[2:14:46] response.

[2:14:47] We got legal advice from our

[2:14:50] attorneys and in terms of what

[2:14:53] can be done in response to fdot

[2:14:54] I will tell you

[2:14:57] that the advice was there's not

[2:15:01] going to be much you can do.

[2:15:02] >> And I will tell you Delray

[2:15:03] Beach who stood very firm has

[2:15:04] now gone back and said they're

[2:15:07] not going to fight it because

[2:15:11] they don't see a legal path.

[2:15:12] Legal issues are important

[2:15:15] and I bring that up because

[2:15:17] emotion and believing it thinks

[2:15:18] is great. But then we have to

[2:15:21] deal with legal issues and how

[2:15:24] this goes forward so I want to

[2:15:28] asked legal because I know

[2:15:31] there was a 2 article that said

[2:15:36] that legal vetted yes

[2:15:37] Brett if you can just what was

[2:15:40] exactly league ul's role.

[2:15:44] In this. Council member

[2:15:47] chair members of Council.

[2:15:50] Are.

[2:15:51] Office assisted in the

[2:15:51] preparation of this resolution

[2:15:52] and the same would way we would

[2:15:54] any other that we've been

[2:15:54] requested to prepare whether

[2:15:57] its administration Council is a

[2:15:58] body or an individual council

[2:16:02] member. The role of our offices

[2:16:03] to provide legal advice,

[2:16:05] not policy direction. We work

[2:16:06] to ensure that the form of the

[2:16:09] item accurately reflects the

[2:16:10] substance coming

[2:16:12] from the requester you know

[2:16:14] legally permissible manner so

[2:16:15] for example when our office has

[2:16:15] requested to prepare a

[2:16:18] resolution supporting state

[2:16:20] legislation. The recitals in

[2:16:21] the statement of report of

[2:16:24] support represent the direction

[2:16:26] that we receive

[2:16:27] and we package that and

[2:16:30] communicate it and write it in

[2:16:30] a manner that we

[2:16:31] believe request the will of the

[2:16:33] body. So the preparation of

[2:16:34] this item was quite ordinary it

[2:16:35] was a collaborative effort

[2:16:38] involving multiple attorneys,

[2:16:39] not something that I did

[2:16:42] specifically are individually

[2:16:43] and our role was the usual

[2:16:46] one to prepare a resolution

[2:16:50] that convey the substance

[2:16:51] that we receive from

[2:16:52] councilmember just won this

[2:16:52] case.

[2:16:53] Okay so in terms of the La

[2:16:53] galaxy what can happen with it.

[2:16:54] You know I think conversations

[2:16:56] typically happen based on.

[2:16:59] What is there. But

[2:17:02] what I want people to

[2:17:03] understand what is the power of

[2:17:04] the state in the areas that we

[2:17:07] are discussing both on the

[2:17:10] flags.

[2:17:14] >> So. Municipalities are

[2:17:17] created by the state can be

[2:17:18] abolished by the state

[2:17:19] use ballot is to not have First

[2:17:21] Amendment rights of their own.

[2:17:21] So the state can require the

[2:17:24] city from stating certain

[2:17:25] things were prohibited

[2:17:28] from stating certain things

[2:17:30] state law currently

[2:17:30] allows local governments to

[2:17:33] adopt a seal and control the

[2:17:37] use of that sealed the city

[2:17:39] adopted its seal in 1921.

[2:17:39] We're also empowered to there's

[2:17:42] not a specific state law about

[2:17:43] the flag

[2:17:44] but to serve as general

[2:17:46] home-rule powers. We adopted

[2:17:49] the first flight in 1927

[2:17:50] revised it in

[2:17:51] 1951 and then again in 1984.

[2:17:52] There's been legislation in the

[2:17:53] past 3 legislative sessions

[2:17:56] that would restrict the flying

[2:17:59] of municipal flags. Bills are

[2:18:01] starting to file there's not a

[2:18:02] bill yet. But it was the same

[2:18:05] bill filed 2 sessions in a row,

[2:18:06] if that bill

[2:18:07] was adopted it likely would

[2:18:07] present and prohibit the city

[2:18:11] from flying the 2 flags that

[2:18:14] are proposed here.

[2:18:15] >> In terms of the.

[2:18:15] Official seal because there is

[2:18:16] a Florida statute that allows

[2:18:20] us to use an official seal they

[2:18:20] can also

[2:18:22] change that statute and limit

[2:18:25] the use of the seal correct

[2:18:28] that's correct. Okay. So

[2:18:32] the other.

[2:18:35] Question I have in terms

[2:18:36] of the flag. Can you

[2:18:39] have more than one official

[2:18:40] flag.

[2:18:41] That's not a question presented

[2:18:41] here.

[2:18:42] Because these are variations on

[2:18:43] the same way if the city to

[2:18:46] celebrate the to commemorate

[2:18:47] its

[2:18:50] its or its founding were to fly

[2:18:53] the 1927 flag of the 1951 flag

[2:18:56] that would not replace the 1984

[2:18:59] flag that we could enjoy just

[2:19:00] because we used an alternate.

[2:19:01] Who has the authority over the

[2:19:01] flag.

[2:19:02] That's not something that was

[2:19:02] presented by this because it's

[2:19:03] a request from Council to the

[2:19:04] mayor and that's not a question

[2:19:05] that we've determined at this

[2:19:06] time. So those are at this

[2:19:10] point not the tournament.

[2:19:13] That's correct.

[2:19:16] I just have

[2:19:18] some real concerns in terms of.

[2:19:19] >> Doing something that the

[2:19:20] state's going to turn around

[2:19:23] and completely preempt and not

[2:19:25] only priya go for a year.

[2:19:27] The conversations that we're

[2:19:30] being had at the art advisory.

[2:19:33] And the public arts commission

[2:19:34] was to find path.

[2:19:35] That we could do things that

[2:19:38] wouldn't destroy something

[2:19:39] again.

[2:19:40] And to me that is a concern I

[2:19:43] would love to hear from other

[2:19:45] council members if they have

[2:19:45] any fights but that's a real

[2:19:47] concern I have because I want

[2:19:50] to see a path that we can do

[2:19:50] things

[2:19:52] where it's not as easy as going

[2:19:53] to the Legislature right now

[2:19:53] they've got tried to do it 3

[2:19:56] times now you're going to give

[2:19:57] them.

[2:19:58] One more thing where in MAY

[2:20:00] take it over and they're gonna

[2:20:01] say okay now it's it and now

[2:20:04] we're going to preempt it and

[2:20:04] once they preempt it

[2:20:06] you're not getting it back.

[2:20:09] Right now we can fly flags, we

[2:20:10] do flight. The pride fact, and

[2:20:13] we do fly. The Carter g Woodson

[2:20:15] flat that's allowed and we're

[2:20:19] doing it. So that that to me is

[2:20:22] a real concern. Thank you.

[2:20:25] Thank you chair.

[2:20:26] So.

[2:20:29] This whole conversation is

[2:20:29] about unity. This whole

[2:20:32] conversation is about history.

[2:20:35] And so let's kind of dig into

[2:20:36] that as it comes

[2:20:37] to these flags a little bit.

[2:20:38] All right so councilmember

[2:20:39] handle its are vice chair

[2:20:41] Hannah it's I'm glad you

[2:20:42] brought

[2:20:43] up the joint meeting.

[2:20:44] I wanted to be a fly on the

[2:20:47] wall at that meeting was unable

[2:20:48] to but did

[2:20:49] sit through it and give me some

[2:20:53] pretty detailed notes. There

[2:20:54] was a lot

[2:20:55] that was brought forward.

[2:20:57] And every conversation that I

[2:20:59] have had within the community,

[2:21:02] including a meeting that I went

[2:21:03] to very well attended

[2:21:04] last week pride in real estate

[2:21:07] where it took several of the

[2:21:10] flags that we redesign this

[2:21:11] summer and gave them out

[2:21:12] everyone was very excited.

[2:21:15] Everyone was very happy and

[2:21:18] then we had a very robust

[2:21:19] conversation about the street

[2:21:22] art the a Rea sure what is

[2:21:23] happening in the state of

[2:21:23] Florida, how it is affecting

[2:21:25] really the trauma that our

[2:21:29] residents feel around this

[2:21:30] issue. But the real kind of I

[2:21:33] guess common denominator in all

[2:21:34] of that conversation

[2:21:38] was that they wanted to see our

[2:21:40] city leadership come together

[2:21:42] and have cohesive conversations

[2:21:43] as all of us that represent

[2:21:46] them about how we move things

[2:21:49] forward. I brought

[2:21:50] forward a new business.

[2:21:53] Us to take a committee meeting

[2:21:54] 2 h o u t to have

[2:21:57] a cohesive unified

[2:22:00] conversation.

[2:22:02] There was left little time

[2:22:05] for that conversation. And the

[2:22:05] day before we were going to

[2:22:08] have that committee meeting the

[2:22:09] administration went ahead and

[2:22:11] rolled out an entire plan

[2:22:14] without consulting City Council

[2:22:17] without having a conversation.

[2:22:18] I heard you say

[2:22:18] councilmember just cold that

[2:22:20] you did this alone that you you

[2:22:22] felt like you had to do this

[2:22:26] alone like for whatever reason

[2:22:27] you didn't have to

[2:22:30] do this alone. You left that

[2:22:31] committee meeting before we had

[2:22:33] this conversation. I sat there

[2:22:36] and asked my colleagues share

[2:22:37] talk with us like

[2:22:40] have you been having

[2:22:43] conversations trying to get

[2:22:46] a unified front on this

[2:22:47] yet here we are being asked to

[2:22:50] look at something that was done

[2:22:53] in a silo.

[2:22:53] If we don't vote for it, then

[2:22:55] it's going to be pitted as

[2:22:57] though we don't support our

[2:22:58] community and that is unfair

[2:23:01] every single person up here

[2:23:04] support.

[2:23:07] Single part of our community.

[2:23:08] We are all about unity. We are

[2:23:11] all about recognizing our

[2:23:12] history. We have shown

[2:23:16] that time and time again.

[2:23:16] But this working in

[2:23:20] silos is starting to appear as

[2:23:22] though it is pitting

[2:23:23] Council against administration.

[2:23:24] >> Against council members MAY

[2:23:25] not help yes today and I am not

[2:23:28] going to stand for it any

[2:23:30] longer. We have all got to get

[2:23:32] on the same page. So if this

[2:23:35] passes today. Can you share

[2:23:36] with me Rob.

[2:23:39] What the mayors response is

[2:23:40] going to be because this

[2:23:43] is a request of him. And he

[2:23:47] obviously is running in his

[2:23:48] own direction on this issue.

[2:23:49] What's going to happen if this

[2:23:50] passes. I don't think I can

[2:23:51] answer that directly

[2:23:52] councilmember I think the mayor

[2:23:54] will have to think about that

[2:23:57] what I what I will say is that

[2:23:58] you know I

[2:23:59] think our intentions together.

[2:24:00] >> All in the same place I

[2:24:03] think that we all want to show

[2:24:04] our values through

[2:24:05] art or symbols to the

[2:24:06] community. And what the mayors

[2:24:08] said is that he wanted to do

[2:24:09] some public outreach to look

[2:24:10] into that so we've had the word

[2:24:13] with Welsh we've done the

[2:24:14] online survey which ended

[2:24:17] yesterday we had the art

[2:24:18] advisory in the public arts

[2:24:21] Commission meeting. So we're

[2:24:22] gathering that input Siletz

[2:24:25] Davis is working on this we're

[2:24:25] going to look

[2:24:26] kid immediate short-term things

[2:24:27] we can do. And then

[2:24:29] longer-range things we can do

[2:24:30] and then you know we plan to

[2:24:31] partner with counsel come back

[2:24:33] to Council with with the

[2:24:36] information that we gather and

[2:24:38] go from there that's

[2:24:38] how we're trying to approach.

[2:24:39] So with the online survey, I'm

[2:24:40] glad that you mentioned that

[2:24:43] those that ends today so when I

[2:24:45] was at this meeting last week

[2:24:47] it happened to be the day that

[2:24:50] the survey was ending and no

[2:24:51] one knew about it.

[2:24:53] Everyone said. There's a survey

[2:24:54] you want my input I didn't know

[2:24:57] you want to my input so that

[2:24:58] evening

[2:24:58] I sent an email to

[2:24:59] administration and thank you

[2:25:02] for honoring that request to

[2:25:03] extend that. So it

[2:25:05] was extended to today and I was

[2:25:08] going to ask tomorrow because

[2:25:09] it's on my calendar for

[2:25:10] those results.

[2:25:11] Because we need to see all of

[2:25:12] that information we need to let

[2:25:15] the joint committees do their

[2:25:19] work we need to

[2:25:21] quote.

[2:25:21] >> In the news that.

[2:25:23] All of these suggestions and we

[2:25:25] need to do that in a

[2:25:27] collaborative way if this is

[2:25:30] about honoring history and this

[2:25:30] is about identity and this is

[2:25:34] about unity. Then we all need

[2:25:35] to be on the scene

[2:25:36] page. And I don't want to sit

[2:25:39] here any longer and continue to

[2:25:40] feel

[2:25:41] like were pending one

[2:25:42] councilmember against

[2:25:44] administration pitting the

[2:25:45] administration against all of

[2:25:48] Council and pitting our

[2:25:49] community against each other

[2:25:52] because I speak we're very

[2:25:55] close to teetering on you're a

[2:25:58] sure starting to cause divide

[2:25:59] between all of us

[2:26:00] and I'm not going to stand for

[2:26:02] it. So I was supposed to leave

[2:26:03] about 30 minutes ago for an

[2:26:05] appointment that I need to get

[2:26:06] to that is a personal

[2:26:09] appointment. So I am going to

[2:26:10] go ahead and go to excuse

[2:26:11] myself from the rest of this

[2:26:12] meeting and I want all of you

[2:26:14] to know this has nothing to do

[2:26:17] with the fact that I support

[2:26:17] you I

[2:26:18] support every single one of you

[2:26:22] and where you stand in your

[2:26:22] place in history and in unity

[2:26:26] and I will always support you.

[2:26:29] But these flags today

[2:26:30] are not it. These flags today

[2:26:31] get us no closer to that and if

[2:26:33] the mayor turns around and says

[2:26:36] he's not going to Then where we

[2:26:38] at we're just that much more

[2:26:40] divided. So I want this process

[2:26:41] to play out. I want the survey

[2:26:44] results I want you all to

[2:26:47] continue to do your work.

[2:26:55] >> I know you have to leave,

[2:26:56] but since you made some

[2:26:57] accusations I just want to set

[2:27:01] the record East. We responded

[2:27:01] to the

[2:27:02] issue that was happening in our

[2:27:05] community to get input from the

[2:27:05] community

[2:27:06] we had a word with Welsh

[2:27:07] already scheduled and we had

[2:27:09] folks from throughout the

[2:27:10] community, including equality

[2:27:12] Florida at that meeting.

[2:27:15] There is no plan move forward

[2:27:17] with the plan

[2:27:20] and the Sept. 10th memo that

[2:27:21] receive showed

[2:27:24] what was happening in the

[2:27:24] community,

[2:27:25] including art adviser in the

[2:27:26] public arts meeting that was

[2:27:26] scheduled. We were showing you

[2:27:27] that folks were moving in

[2:27:28] different parts of the

[2:27:31] community. This is what

[2:27:32] happened and our plan.

[2:27:35] It's a let the process move

[2:27:37] forward and hear all the ideas

[2:27:37] that are out there. There was

[2:27:38] no plan that I was going

[2:27:41] forward with other than getting

[2:27:44] the input from the entire

[2:27:44] community. On how we move

[2:27:45] forward in a sustainable way.

[2:27:49] A way that can't be preempted.

[2:27:52] But the state and county or

[2:27:53] City Council input is certainly

[2:27:56] a part of that process we want

[2:27:57] to hear what city councils

[2:27:59] ideas are so the pushback when

[2:28:01] you say I'm one with the plan

[2:28:03] only plan was to listen to the

[2:28:06] community. Listen to the ideas

[2:28:09] listen to counsel when that

[2:28:10] meeting happened and find the

[2:28:11] most sustainable way forward.

[2:28:14] So what you said was not true.

[2:28:14] We're listening.

[2:28:17] And we look forward to building

[2:28:21] a sustainable response.

[2:28:23] So what we've all gone.

[2:28:23] And I appreciate that mayor

[2:28:26] perception is reality. And my

[2:28:28] reality looked very differently

[2:28:29] at that committee meeting so

[2:28:30] we're going to leave it where

[2:28:32] with that the committee meeting

[2:28:35] that we had the h o u t meeting

[2:28:36] where there with

[2:28:36] the memo was released the day

[2:28:39] before that meeting. And there

[2:28:41] was no

[2:28:42] real conversation at that

[2:28:42] meeting.

[2:28:43] And I don't I don't want to

[2:28:43] argue with you know with a

[2:28:46] certain out there and now you

[2:28:47] talk

[2:28:48] about it well should be okay.

[2:28:48] We have already had worked with

[2:28:52] Welsh scheduled we had 20 folks

[2:28:52] in the

[2:28:53] room from around the community

[2:28:54] and they put out ideas about

[2:28:55] what we could do one of them

[2:28:59] was a flag. But there are many

[2:29:01] other ideas that we all

[2:29:02] accumulating we thought we'd

[2:29:04] set up the job for him to get

[2:29:05] done community-wide response.

[2:29:07] And that's what we're doing so

[2:29:10] we're not running for with the

[2:29:10] plant we're trying to get all

[2:29:11] the ideas and move forward and

[2:29:15] again youve got my phone number

[2:29:15] we've talked many times

[2:29:17] if you want to talk about this.

[2:29:20] Give me a call and we'll do

[2:29:22] that. But the theatrical

[2:29:24] appear. I'm not gonna deal with

[2:29:25] it ok you're setting up

[2:29:28] division. We're trying to move

[2:29:31] forward and make our city

[2:29:32] sustainable and respond to this

[2:29:32] strategically so if you're

[2:29:33] going to call out the

[2:29:36] administration with something

[2:29:39] that's false.

[2:29:40] I'm gonna count.

[2:29:41] Fair enough so if this passes

[2:29:42] today, what is your intention

[2:29:45] with this right. What Council

[2:29:48] discuss this because this

[2:29:51] is not here to a process.

[2:29:54] So Council can discuss that

[2:29:55] and then out.

[2:29:56] Talk to you that ministration

[2:29:57] knows my position on the city

[2:29:58] flag, the official flag versus

[2:30:02] the pride and Woodson flag that

[2:30:03] I've raise above city all

[2:30:05] every year and will continue to

[2:30:05] do that. But we'll have that

[2:30:06] conversation after Council has

[2:30:08] your discussion very good.

[2:30:11] Thank you Sir. MR. CHAIRMAN

[2:30:14] thank you thank you.

[2:30:18] >> We're going to go to

[2:30:19] councilmember Floyd first

[2:30:21] councilmember just go for it

[2:30:27] come back to you oh okay.

[2:30:30] >> Just one of the mayor

[2:30:30] Lightfoot did request a

[2:30:33] one-on-one to discuss this and

[2:30:36] did not get information back.

[2:30:38] From administration so i

[2:30:39] realize it's an ongoing issue

[2:30:40] would love to have that

[2:30:43] one-on-one is what I would say.

[2:30:49] >> And then.

[2:30:52] >> I have some stuff here

[2:30:53] obviously us to want to hear

[2:30:53] from everyone else. But my

[2:30:54] perspective is been a little

[2:30:56] bit different than what's been

[2:30:56] presented first want to

[2:30:57] thank council member driskell

[2:30:59] for bringing forward a creative

[2:31:00] idea I understand people's

[2:31:00] concerns and the like you know

[2:31:03] we would be great if we all get

[2:31:04] together but you brought this

[2:31:08] tree here analyzing what I was

[2:31:11] brought

[2:31:11] I'll just say you

[2:31:14] know it's a creative idea that

[2:31:18] continues to push forward

[2:31:18] representation for the

[2:31:19] lgbtq and african-american

[2:31:20] communities in the city.

[2:31:22] And we're in a dark place in

[2:31:24] our country and say right now

[2:31:25] specifically when marginalized

[2:31:28] communities in her attack

[2:31:28] constantly

[2:31:30] go into detail as to how so

[2:31:31] some really horrific things

[2:31:33] from the federal government

[2:31:34] today on lgbtq rights actually

[2:31:37] but we'll watch the news saw

[2:31:39] spare us the Payne really

[2:31:42] and because of this situation,

[2:31:43] I'm ready to support almost

[2:31:44] anything. Anyone in city

[2:31:47] government puts in front of me

[2:31:48] that

[2:31:49] makes marginalize communities

[2:31:50] feel more welcome the city

[2:31:53] almost anything as long as it's

[2:31:56] reasonable.

[2:31:57] You know it can come

[2:31:58] from the mayor can come from

[2:31:59] city literally anything yes it

[2:32:00] would be ideal if we all got

[2:32:03] together and decided how we

[2:32:05] move forward best

[2:32:07] but what you put in front of me

[2:32:07] and what I put forward I hope

[2:32:08] we'll get a hearing what you've

[2:32:10] heard of for me will get a

[2:32:14] hearing. I don't care where it

[2:32:14] comes from

[2:32:16] I don't care how it gets in

[2:32:17] front of me. There's

[2:32:18] horrifically evil things going

[2:32:18] on in this state in this

[2:32:19] country right now and I'm ready

[2:32:23] to push back any way that I

[2:32:25] can. So

[2:32:27] the last thing, I'll say those.

[2:32:27] To a couple of the comments

[2:32:30] that are made councilmember

[2:32:32] speakers.

[2:32:35] My perspective is I don't think

[2:32:36] that the existence of these

[2:32:39] flags. Allies as anyone else's

[2:32:42] identity. One we put

[2:32:43] forward that a marginalized

[2:32:45] community has been attacked

[2:32:46] that has been attacked is

[2:32:48] important to us we're not

[2:32:49] singling them out because

[2:32:52] they're more important to us

[2:32:54] we're singling them out because

[2:32:57] they've been attacked. So

[2:32:58] that's that's a perspective

[2:32:59] that I bring you this. You

[2:33:00] know, obviously we've heard

[2:33:03] from our colleagues and it's

[2:33:05] been frustrating for everyone

[2:33:06] involved. I think our

[2:33:07] frustration is not necessarily

[2:33:10] with each other our frustration

[2:33:13] is with a state that doesn't.

[2:33:16] Slipped out of character and

[2:33:17] what the

[2:33:17] state know what I really

[2:33:19] thought the state that doesn't

[2:33:20] seem to care about people as

[2:33:23] much as he cares about

[2:33:24] continuing to

[2:33:25] moreover us and make sure that

[2:33:28] you know their corporate bosses

[2:33:29] can continue to profit off of

[2:33:32] our existence and they can rule

[2:33:34] with hate and division.

[2:33:38] That's that's really what our

[2:33:39] frustration is and so.

[2:33:40] I hope that you know having

[2:33:41] said that we can all come to

[2:33:44] conclusions that work together.

[2:33:47] But on generally

[2:33:48] supportive of the council

[2:33:49] member driskell but you know

[2:33:49] what based off the

[2:33:50] conversation. We've had today I

[2:33:54] think people want to see this

[2:33:55] happened in a different way.

[2:33:56] I understand where they're

[2:33:56] coming from, but I appreciate

[2:34:00] you bringing this forward thank

[2:34:03] you.

[2:34:03] Thank you. Councilor

[2:34:04] just going to go to

[2:34:07] councilmember guests, thank

[2:34:08] you. Thank you chair, I

[2:34:09] think is a prime example of and

[2:34:12] isolated process becoming

[2:34:14] siloed conversations on I

[2:34:17] certainly appreciate the

[2:34:20] passion. I understand. This is

[2:34:24] this is what passing get you.

[2:34:26] >> And I certainly feel like

[2:34:28] this is deja vu because I

[2:34:30] certainly understand why one

[2:34:33] would want to step up to lend

[2:34:36] their voice. Too making sure

[2:34:39] that everyone has a voice

[2:34:41] to making sure that communities

[2:34:44] are erased and communities

[2:34:45] aren't silence. I want to be

[2:34:48] clear, I don't support fdot ski

[2:34:49] racer of our murals.

[2:34:50] And I also want to be clear

[2:34:54] that I support us finding a

[2:34:56] solution

[2:34:57] to that however, I know I also

[2:35:00] have been having conversations

[2:35:01] with artists and

[2:35:02] with the same members of the

[2:35:03] community that my colleagues

[2:35:06] that conversations with then

[2:35:07] and I just want to know you

[2:35:10] know if we were to move forward

[2:35:11] with

[2:35:12] this conversation today.

[2:35:13] What happens with the

[2:35:17] submissions from the community

[2:35:18] that will be received

[2:35:20] or that have been received with

[2:35:21] this will we be able to tie the

[2:35:22] 2 together would ideas from

[2:35:25] other council members be able

[2:35:27] to be incorporated

[2:35:27] is this a.

[2:35:30] Either or type situation or we

[2:35:31] can do all of the above.

[2:35:33] I mean our position is that

[2:35:34] we're going to continuing

[2:35:35] reviewing the feedback that we

[2:35:37] got we're going to look at it

[2:35:38] and see what we think it's

[2:35:41] we're going to approach City

[2:35:41] Council with some ideas and

[2:35:44] concepts that we think can show

[2:35:46] our values

[2:35:48] through artistic worker symbols

[2:35:51] that can last in a legal manner

[2:35:52] and be there so that's that's

[2:35:53] what we plan to do moving

[2:35:54] forward appreciate that MISTER

[2:35:56] Curtis and I was thinking you

[2:35:58] know next week.

[2:35:58] We have this on your own

[2:35:59] festival and much of that runs

[2:36:00] through district 7 throughout

[2:36:01] the warehouse arts district and

[2:36:01] that could be an opportunity

[2:36:04] for us to get feedback and

[2:36:05] maybe

[2:36:05] even top the private property

[2:36:06] owners.

[2:36:09] Who MAY be willing to provide

[2:36:10] their

[2:36:12] property as an opportunity for

[2:36:13] us to. Express our values

[2:36:15] through Kansas. So I just want

[2:36:16] to you know make sure that

[2:36:17] we're cognizant of that that's

[2:36:17] happening that we connect the

[2:36:20] opportunity again for us to get

[2:36:20] more feedback from the

[2:36:23] community and then I do have a

[2:36:27] question for legal say we do

[2:36:28] move forward with

[2:36:28] with their be anything aside

[2:36:30] from preemption is there

[2:36:31] anything that the state could

[2:36:34] thinking about those right if

[2:36:34] we were to

[2:36:35] allocate city resources for

[2:36:36] these flags could do is come

[2:36:38] back and slaps on the hand for

[2:36:41] doing so.

[2:36:44] >> Councilor Givens sewing as I

[2:36:46] understand that the doge effort

[2:36:47] is to call out what it

[2:36:48] considers wasteful spending it

[2:36:51] doesn't actually have any

[2:36:54] regulatory authority. So

[2:36:54] they could sit and certainly

[2:36:57] identify this and say yes, this

[2:36:58] is another example

[2:37:01] of wasteful spending but they

[2:37:03] could do

[2:37:03] that with anything at this

[2:37:04] point so.

[2:37:04] And I appreciate that

[2:37:07] clarification that they can do

[2:37:08] this with anything so

[2:37:09] I share vice chairs concerns

[2:37:10] what repercussions but as you

[2:37:11] said attorney Pettigrew they

[2:37:14] can do it with just about

[2:37:15] anything this is big brother

[2:37:16] micro-managing little rather so

[2:37:18] it's either we flex our muscles

[2:37:20] and we use our voices and we

[2:37:21] wait until they tell us no or

[2:37:24] will sit here in you know

[2:37:24] wallowing

[2:37:26] rpd and wish that we did

[2:37:28] something I do want to ask the

[2:37:29] question to administration is

[2:37:31] there anything that prevents us

[2:37:32] from raising the Carter g

[2:37:34] Woodson flag or the pride flag

[2:37:37] year-round aside from just

[2:37:38] those designated months.

[2:37:39] I I don't.

[2:37:39] I deferred to the City

[2:37:43] Attorney's Office on that I

[2:37:46] can't give you any

[2:37:47] legal interpretation on that

[2:37:47] I'm not aware of prison.

[2:37:48] Right now there's no

[2:37:49] restriction in state law on

[2:37:49] raising that and if there was

[2:37:52] to be one of the future.

[2:37:55] It would depend on. What form

[2:37:57] it took.

[2:37:58] So the PRESIDENT Know.

[2:37:59] Appreciate that and again I'm

[2:38:00] just looking for solutions said

[2:38:01] this not move forward today

[2:38:03] again I'm supporting it simply

[2:38:06] because I support making sure

[2:38:06] that minority vote voices are

[2:38:07] silenced or oppressed, but at

[2:38:08] the same time I want to make

[2:38:12] sure that we have a logical

[2:38:14] idea

[2:38:14] that won't be preempted.

[2:38:15] So thank you chair appreciate

[2:38:18] it, thank you councilmember fix

[2:38:21] Sanders. Thank you I think.

[2:38:23] Right you actually in certain

[2:38:25] my question in theory and in

[2:38:28] concept. I don't have a problem

[2:38:31] with it. But my question was

[2:38:32] what was just asked. We can

[2:38:35] still fly those flags now

[2:38:37] because

[2:38:38] still fly the cards he was in

[2:38:40] the still.

[2:38:44] Pri, pride flag. So I guess

[2:38:45] my.

[2:38:46] The question is what us.

[2:38:47] The rush. If we can still do

[2:38:51] these things now in concept we

[2:38:52] can still fly these flags now

[2:38:55] while we change this cities

[2:38:58] Leigh too.

[2:39:03] How do they are our time as

[2:39:07] designated I guess I'm trying

[2:39:07] to understand

[2:39:09] if we can still do it right

[2:39:12] now. What is the hurry because

[2:39:13] I really do I didn't know

[2:39:14] about the survey ending today.

[2:39:17] I would really love to see what

[2:39:20] our constituents have to say

[2:39:25] before we chase the official

[2:39:25] flay.

[2:39:26] And I do know the Americans say

[2:39:26] he's not going to do this.

[2:39:27] i do understand that and that

[2:39:28] will be you know his his

[2:39:28] approval to do so I guess I'm

[2:39:30] just trying to figure out.

[2:39:33] If we can still fly both flags

[2:39:36] now what's the issue as far

[2:39:40] as hearing, everyone's boys.

[2:39:41] Again I have to agree

[2:39:41] with councilmember Gavin on

[2:39:42] that you know we we want to

[2:39:45] make sure that our constituents

[2:39:48] know that we support them and I

[2:39:51] don't think biased not

[2:39:52] approving a new flag design

[2:39:55] indicates that we don't I've

[2:39:57] seen so many of us make so

[2:39:57] many bold and brave moves.

[2:40:00] For african-american community

[2:40:04] for lgbt community

[2:40:04] are we being attacked

[2:40:06] absolutely I'm a black woman

[2:40:07] standing here that can feel it

[2:40:09] each and every day. But I guess

[2:40:10] I'm just trying to find the

[2:40:12] relevance as to why we are in

[2:40:16] such a hurry without getting

[2:40:16] constituents back.

[2:40:18] I need to be back as to what

[2:40:18] they want to see because once

[2:40:21] you start setting a precedence

[2:40:22] and you all know I'm being on

[2:40:23] citing PRESIDENT Says once we

[2:40:25] started setting a precedent is

[2:40:28] how we move forward from here

[2:40:30] on out. So I don't know if.

[2:40:33] Councilmember to school you

[2:40:34] have

[2:40:37] to have this today or would you

[2:40:38] be willing to find out with the

[2:40:40] constituents are saying instead

[2:40:41] of

[2:40:44] it just showing up and I pay

[2:40:45] cut because

[2:40:47] we I had not had any

[2:40:48] conversation. Every guy is to

[2:40:49] completely switching out the cd

[2:40:50] flay I just wanted to make sure

[2:40:53] that we're not being prohibited

[2:40:54] from flying any flay

[2:40:57] that indicates though so that's

[2:41:00] where my confusion in Milan

[2:41:01] readiness lies because we are

[2:41:03] in full support of cp being the

[2:41:05] welcoming city of by all means,

[2:41:08] I'm just trying to and just

[2:41:09] they did. If

[2:41:10] we can continue still fly that

[2:41:11] with other flags. Well we want

[2:41:12] to change the city's flag.

[2:41:15] Is this just my question thank

[2:41:18] you Jen thank you.

[2:41:21] Council member driskell.

[2:41:22] And counselor Givens I'm sorry

[2:41:25] but I just want to jump I want

[2:41:25] to jump in before we go into

[2:41:28] around 2. So I I appreciate

[2:41:32] your we're grace both of you.

[2:41:37] I guess my first question

[2:41:38] council member driskell I'll

[2:41:41] just go to you all just go

[2:41:44] right to it.

[2:41:47] I think you I

[2:41:53] think we've all heard it right.

[2:41:56] >> I think we all want to

[2:41:57] move forward somehow.

[2:41:57] And and be loud and and.

[2:41:58] I'll put it this way. I want to

[2:42:00] throw a haymaker I don't want

[2:42:03] to throw a jab.

[2:42:04] I'm wondering if you would be

[2:42:08] open and I can't make the

[2:42:10] motion.

[2:42:10] If you if we put the sick cow

[2:42:12] on the 23th, so we're not

[2:42:16] waiting report, I'm just asking

[2:42:19] what the back.

[2:42:20] That way.

[2:42:20] And then the ministrations this

[2:42:23] is free to do you think in 2

[2:42:27] weeks you

[2:42:29] would be prepared to.

[2:42:30] By that by to give us result.

[2:42:30] Possibly have some

[2:42:32] conversations about what those

[2:42:33] results are in and be able to

[2:42:36] discuss on what you think are

[2:42:38] options that could

[2:42:38] go forward that have weight.

[2:42:39] I think we can certainly put

[2:42:40] the results together we could

[2:42:41] we could put together some

[2:42:42] potential options for City

[2:42:45] Council to consider in the next

[2:42:47] couple weeks ago.

[2:42:48] So.

[2:42:48] I want to hear your feedback.

[2:42:49] I think I know where you're at

[2:42:52] but I think it's important

[2:42:54] because listen. Hear hear.

[2:42:54] Here's where I'm at.

[2:42:55] I'll go right back to what I

[2:42:56] just said I want to throw a

[2:42:58] haymaker which seems like all

[2:42:59] at once like let's come out

[2:43:00] with multiple different ways

[2:43:02] that we stand up to what has

[2:43:03] happened.

[2:43:07] Certainly could be a part of

[2:43:09] that but

[2:43:12] I said this morning said it

[2:43:13] before like want to

[2:43:14] have all the information in

[2:43:14] front of me. Still like I have

[2:43:16] some quite like some questions

[2:43:18] that I hesitate to even come up

[2:43:19] here on the dias because I I

[2:43:20] just believe it's a committee

[2:43:21] level conversation about like

[2:43:21] procurement and things like

[2:43:24] that.

[2:43:27] And so

[2:43:29] I know that's.

[2:43:29] Secondary to what we're trying

[2:43:30] to do but still in my opinion

[2:43:31] important question. I want to

[2:43:33] give you the opportunity to

[2:43:36] respond.

[2:43:43] >> And thanks to all you on.

[2:43:44] We have weighed in on this.

[2:43:45] It is you always take a chance

[2:43:45] when you bring something

[2:43:48] straight to Council. All right.

[2:43:52] You guys take a chance when

[2:43:53] you're going to do something

[2:43:57] bold. And that's what this is.

[2:43:59] These flags are different.

[2:44:02] The pride flag that's raised

[2:44:03] that

[2:44:04] in JUNE. They Woodson flag

[2:44:07] that's raised for Black History

[2:44:10] Month. In FEBRUARY.

[2:44:14] I wanted these to be.

[2:44:18] Evergreen all encompassing

[2:44:18] showing

[2:44:22] that I mean this isn't even

[2:44:25] actually a pride flag.

[2:44:27] It was created. Originally by

[2:44:28] Johnny and marketing to give

[2:44:31] out to everyone has a variation

[2:44:34] on that.

[2:44:39] And I think every single person

[2:44:42] can see themselves in this

[2:44:45] flat.

[2:44:48] That's what art does to you.

[2:44:52] >> So it's not about replacing

[2:44:52] our official city flag. It's

[2:44:55] about having variations on that

[2:44:58] flag.

[2:44:59] In an official way because look

[2:45:02] we also have a grand Prix

[2:45:05] flank.

[2:45:07] Race flag I don't know what's

[2:45:10] going to happen with that now.

[2:45:12] We have tried and we have like

[2:45:15] the treatment, this makes him

[2:45:19] special this this takes it to

[2:45:19] the next level where it's not

[2:45:20] just about one group of people.

[2:45:23] These flags have been have been

[2:45:24] created to be about everybody

[2:45:28] to be about everyone in our

[2:45:28] city. And

[2:45:31] so that is that is why. I would

[2:45:32] like to

[2:45:33] have these used instead that

[2:45:36] certain times of the year at

[2:45:39] City facilities.

[2:45:41] But the

[2:45:44] city seal mean something and it

[2:45:46] means something to.

[2:45:49] The folks who have seen this it

[2:45:51] really just takes it a step

[2:45:53] further. It's a bolder step and

[2:45:54] that's what this moment calls

[2:45:57] for we're at a critical time

[2:46:01] right now.

[2:46:23] I understand that we want the

[2:46:26] other information and have

[2:46:29] committee

[2:46:29] meetings and bureaucracy and

[2:46:32] and focus groups and surveys.

[2:46:35] But the people I've been

[2:46:38] talking to ever since

[2:46:41] this melting started happening.

[2:46:41] >> They want something

[2:46:44] something right now. We're not

[2:46:47] giving them anything.

[2:46:48] So when I go to

[2:46:49] an administrator and say hey

[2:46:52] I've got this idea. This is

[2:46:52] what we can

[2:46:53] do it I saw it happen in MAY.

[2:46:57] I thought about it when Johnny

[2:47:00] the flags in JUNE.

[2:47:03] >> And it was like oh wow we

[2:47:03] there's a process so rather

[2:47:04] than having this get caught in

[2:47:06] the Bermuda Triangle of

[2:47:10] bureaucracy.

[2:47:12] I decided to

[2:47:13] putin idea together on my own

[2:47:14] and no one can tell me that no

[2:47:14] other council members that

[2:47:15] there and come up with

[2:47:17] something on their own before.

[2:47:23] It's not working in a silo is

[2:47:24] being an independent thinker

[2:47:26] and it's being a representative

[2:47:30] for our city.

[2:47:33] We can choose to be a city

[2:47:34] Council members is back and it

[2:47:35] gets fed things and makes

[2:47:38] decisions on them. But none of

[2:47:41] us does that.

[2:47:43] Some other city can do that

[2:47:46] we do things here. We come up

[2:47:50] with ideas.

[2:47:53] This is one.

[2:47:55] I couldn't take the chance on

[2:47:56] having it sent to come in I

[2:47:59] couldn't even take that chance,

[2:48:00] I'm putting it on

[2:48:01] the agenda originally. I

[2:48:03] purposely waited to get on ads

[2:48:07] and believes that they would

[2:48:07] only be out there for a week

[2:48:09] because guess what happened

[2:48:10] when I believe is councilmember

[2:48:13] Floyd a few years ago who

[2:48:15] brought a resolution forward.

[2:48:16] Lots of feedback from the

[2:48:18] community lots of support for

[2:48:19] it.

[2:48:22] Just before we had the meeting

[2:48:25] to vote on it. We received.

[2:48:29] I'm not so nice letter. From

[2:48:33] the state level.

[2:48:34] Losing funding if we passed

[2:48:37] that particular resolution that

[2:48:40] day.

[2:48:41] When that happens you don't

[2:48:44] forget it. When you work on

[2:48:45] something like this.

[2:48:47] You have that in mind you have

[2:48:50] to be very strategic about it.

[2:48:53] And so I do apologize that I

[2:48:55] was not able to give.

[2:48:56] A two-week notice to ask for

[2:48:59] something to be put on

[2:49:01] committee and put on a referral

[2:49:04] listen maybe one day. Get a

[2:49:05] discussion on it. I

[2:49:06] knew what I wanted to do.

[2:49:07] I put it together he's my own

[2:49:09] money to pay the artist to

[2:49:10] create these images for you all

[2:49:14] to look at and hopefully to

[2:49:16] support and approve.

[2:49:16] I have a feeling of the mayor

[2:49:19] came through that door right

[2:49:20] now. I think he

[2:49:23] might say that he likes these.

[2:49:33] I'm willing to take that

[2:49:36] chance.

[2:49:42] Whoever thought this would come

[2:49:45] from St. Right girl. You know.

[2:49:51] This is for me.

[2:49:54] Like a sense of pride that I

[2:49:58] get from this is from

[2:50:01] expressing myself as an ally.

[2:50:02] But even greater than

[2:50:03] that, I'm expressing myself as

[2:50:04] a resident, and the leader

[2:50:07] of St. Petersburg because

[2:50:10] that's what this is about.

[2:50:12] These slides are for everyone.

[2:50:12] That's why they have the names

[2:50:15] that they have it reflect who

[2:50:18] we are.

[2:50:22] The people told me that they've

[2:50:23] been one person in particular

[2:50:26] said the people have been so

[2:50:28] hungry for something and

[2:50:29] this answers to that. I know

[2:50:32] that it doesn't fix everything.

[2:50:35] Certainly not.

[2:50:39] But I have a feeling.

[2:50:40] That no matter what else we

[2:50:40] come up with no matter what

[2:50:42] else the administration comes

[2:50:43] up with in how we work

[2:50:44] together.

[2:50:47] These will fit in just fine.

[2:50:50] I'm pretty sure.

[2:50:53] I want I want these.

[2:50:56] A part of our city.

[2:51:05] And willing to answer any

[2:51:06] questions any one Hannah's.

[2:51:07] If you just tell me what it

[2:51:10] will take to get you into this

[2:51:13] car today. And I will move

[2:51:17] approval.

[2:51:19] Thank you chair.

[2:51:23] Just one of them raise a

[2:51:26] morsell make a statement.

[2:51:27] Based on.

[2:51:28] Comments have been made if we

[2:51:31] open Pandora's box on this o

[2:51:32] where does though

[2:51:35] where is the line drawn where

[2:51:38] do we

[2:51:39] stop requests for flags, I mean

[2:51:39] if.

[2:51:40] Christian group came to me and

[2:51:41] said hey we want to put the

[2:51:42] Christian flag on the same

[2:51:42] piece seal can we do that

[2:51:45] neo-nazis asked for that if

[2:51:47] Matt is one of

[2:51:48] the coming year and do that

[2:51:48] where do we draw the line.

[2:51:49] So again this is a great

[2:51:50] concept, but I just want to be

[2:51:53] clear that we could be opening

[2:51:56] Pandora's box.

[2:52:03] >> Thank you and I'm I'm in the

[2:52:06] same. Councilmember Jessica

[2:52:07] said wherever we whatever

[2:52:08] we come up with the flags will

[2:52:11] fitting so that's where I am

[2:52:11] let us find

[2:52:13] out where that is in that them

[2:52:14] feeding and what I don't want

[2:52:17] to happen is for this not to

[2:52:20] pay is. Today

[2:52:21] and then

[2:52:24] there's no further conversation

[2:52:26] because I do want to see

[2:52:27] additional conversation I do

[2:52:29] want to see us make this strong

[2:52:33] bold move but I do want to know

[2:52:33] that our constituents

[2:52:35] have to say, so I agree with

[2:52:36] chair go to sequester now make

[2:52:38] that motion if you need to read

[2:52:40] that now make it if that needs

[2:52:44] to happen, but. I just don't

[2:52:45] want to see it not.

[2:52:48] Thank you chair, thank you

[2:52:51] council members. Thank you

[2:52:55] and first

[2:52:58] if someone.

[2:53:01] Had some type of flag

[2:53:02] that they would. So there's a

[2:53:03] lot of what about They happens

[2:53:06] when you bring forward

[2:53:09] something like this.

[2:53:10] Any person.

[2:53:11] Could contact a City Council

[2:53:13] member of the same process.

[2:53:14] Any person kid ask a City

[2:53:17] Council member. Get them on

[2:53:21] board.

[2:53:22] And and propose and have the

[2:53:25] City Council member propose it

[2:53:28] that can happen.

[2:53:32] It doesn't stop me from

[2:53:33] putting for

[2:53:34] what I believe in what I would

[2:53:37] like to have. But there is no.

[2:53:45] There's no rule against someone

[2:53:45] asking the City Council member

[2:53:47] to sponsor a different kind of

[2:53:49] flag and having everyone vote

[2:53:53] on it. So it's all the same.

[2:53:55] No matter what.

[2:53:56] The flag looks like

[2:54:00] councilmember fig Sanders

[2:54:03] question about. Or

[2:54:05] request about

[2:54:09] waiting. The reason that I have

[2:54:12] as I mentioned before.

[2:54:15] 2 reasons number one every

[2:54:17] our that this is in public.

[2:54:20] When there is the opportunity.

[2:54:25] And you know even if we didn't

[2:54:29] pass I mean since this became

[2:54:32] public. It has been at risk.

[2:54:36] So that could it could

[2:54:38] something could happen any

[2:54:41] time. This is one where even if

[2:54:44] we only had it for.

[2:54:44] You know a week a year,

[2:54:47] whatever and telecom the bill

[2:54:50] gets filed again in Tallahassee

[2:54:53] we will have had it.

[2:54:56] But I think it was dunk

[2:54:57] councilmember fig Sanders who

[2:55:00] said not too long ago in a city

[2:55:02] Council meeting.

[2:55:04] I will not walk in fear.

[2:55:08] I would not live in fear is

[2:55:11] something like that and I.

[2:55:15] I think of of and the video

[2:55:16] that was made by James comey

[2:55:19] and when he was just recently

[2:55:22] indicted.

[2:55:24] Stood strong talked about how

[2:55:27] his family is going to say stay

[2:55:28] strong and he said we will not

[2:55:31] live at 9 on we will not live

[2:55:34] on our knees.

[2:55:37] And that really that really hit

[2:55:38] me and I thought

[2:55:41] about what councilmember fig

[2:55:45] Sanders has had said before.

[2:55:47] And so I wanted to.

[2:55:50] Continue with this and be

[2:55:52] strong.

[2:55:53] I can't control what the state

[2:55:56] does I can't you know control

[2:55:57] what

[2:55:57] happens what happens next with

[2:55:58] this someone can decide that

[2:55:59] I'll be removed from office

[2:56:02] tomorrow just for bringing this

[2:56:05] forward.

[2:56:05] I'm not afraid

[2:56:08] of this because I believe in

[2:56:11] it.

[2:56:14] i would love to talk about this

[2:56:18] in committee along with all of

[2:56:21] these other things.

[2:56:21] But it does mean that

[2:56:22] there's a chance that it too is

[2:56:25] going to be a race sooner than

[2:56:28] later.

[2:56:31] Damn shame.

[2:56:40] What's great to hear

[2:56:40] my colleagues in all it very

[2:56:43] thoughtful conversation.

[2:56:46] A lot of issues brought up.

[2:56:49] I do want to say in terms of

[2:56:52] having a committee meeting as

[2:56:54] was offered.

[2:56:54] A couple of weeks at all think

[2:56:55] changes anything because the

[2:56:56] reality is I mean spectrum.

[2:56:57] Bay news 9 contacted the

[2:57:00] governor's.

[2:57:04] Be quick.

[2:57:07] The had a quote one of the

[2:57:10] articles, it's not like.

[2:57:12] This is not already getting

[2:57:15] to the people who would b MAY

[2:57:18] be motivated to erase it.

[2:57:19] So.

[2:57:21] I understand those concerns.

[2:57:24] But at this point it's there.

[2:57:27] Already

[2:57:27] and.

[2:57:28] Having a committee meeting to

[2:57:28] have a thoughtful conversation

[2:57:31] about what the options are I

[2:57:32] think doesn't change that back.

[2:57:34] I thought that was a good

[2:57:38] compromise. That's all I one

[2:57:41] thing thank you.

[2:57:45] I mean it is a risk either way.

[2:57:46] And it sounds

[2:57:50] like the beak there are some

[2:57:53] wood mind. A greater

[2:57:56] level of comfort in

[2:57:57] having a couple of weeks too.

[2:57:58] We speak with the community as

[2:58:00] councilmember fig Sanders said

[2:58:02] and. Maybe

[2:58:05] give everyone more time to

[2:58:08] digest this.

[2:58:15] I think we can get to a good

[2:58:18] place on it.

[2:58:23] >> And so I will withdraw my

[2:58:26] motion. And I will move to have

[2:58:30] of this item

[2:58:31] referred to a committee of the

[2:58:33] whole.

[2:58:34] To take place on Oct. 23th,

[2:58:34] 2025 already spoken to Jamie so

[2:58:37] thankful here, thanks for

[2:58:38] thankful for your willingness

[2:58:39] to do that and it'll be on the

[2:58:41] agenda on 23th of already make

[2:58:44] sure second.

[2:58:48] >> Okay we have a motion and

[2:58:49] second councilmember Driscoll I

[2:58:51] just want to thank you one more

[2:58:51] time for your willingness to

[2:58:52] have the conversation this is

[2:58:53] exactly what I have I have made

[2:58:56] this comment multiple times.

[2:58:56] So thank you. And I want

[2:59:00] to thank my colleagues for

[2:59:03] their comments.

[2:59:04] We have g 3 refer to a cow

[2:59:05] seeing is no other council

[2:59:08] members wishing to speak clerk

[2:59:08] could you please over the

[2:59:09] machine for boating council

[2:59:09] members please enter your

[2:59:10] votes, seeing is all present

[2:59:11] council members a vote a clerk

[2:59:13] please talent announce the

[2:59:16] vote.

[2:59:17] >> In your view then like a

[2:59:20] soggy end. Please re-enter your

[2:59:23] votes councilmembers

[2:59:26] sitting in. He is a present

[2:59:30] council members a vote a clerk

[2:59:31] please timing out the vote.

[2:59:31] Sure the motion to approve

[2:59:32] agenda item g 3 passes 6, 2,

[2:59:33] One with councilmember Harding

[2:59:35] Bono and councilmember Gabbert

[2:59:35] being absent from school

[2:59:36] Sanders Floyd Curtis it gives

[2:59:39] you your hand was voting.

[2:59:42] Yes, okay, thank you.

[2:59:44] >> We'll go to open for a

[2:59:45] speakers on open for him do not

[2:59:47] have. Okay councilmembers

[2:59:50] announcements.

[2:59:53] If you're thinking about it by

[2:59:56] share. Now I will.

[3:00:03] >> Any any and the nonverbal.

[3:00:08] >> And that's something I mean

[3:00:08] a number I was real sensitive

[3:00:11] to nonverbal communication

[3:00:14] after our student and

[3:00:16] that is Sat. Afternoon.

[3:00:16] Now number of all communication

[3:00:17] for me thank you for or for

[3:00:19] what this point thank you very

[3:00:20] much. Well listen just quickly

[3:00:21] just wanted to thank all of you

[3:00:24] for the presentations and

[3:00:27] proclamations this morning or

[3:00:28] this afternoon and then again

[3:00:31] just wanted to. Just reiterate

[3:00:32] my thankfulness for my

[3:00:35] colleagues in the

[3:00:37] administration both for your

[3:00:37] willingness to make some

[3:00:41] compromise some good

[3:00:42] compromise. I think today and

[3:00:43] then personally councilmember

[3:00:44] fix Sanders go ahead. That was

[3:00:45] non-verbal councilmember in

[3:00:46] don't forget you have put your

[3:00:47] shirt on and take a picture and

[3:00:48] send the Southeast that we can

[3:00:51] share those okay we can do a

[3:00:54] self we can do selfie time.

[3:00:56] And then

[3:00:56] just quickly again just I just

[3:00:58] wanted to thank you for all the

[3:00:59] support with the girl this and

[3:01:01] going t family just one last

[3:01:02] time being today what it is so.

[3:01:03] >> If there's nothing else for

City Council

Agenda

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