>> Welcome
to the city of St. Petersburg
City Council meeting and your
elected
officials our mayor Ken Welch.
>> District one Council chair.
Hopefully Curtis. District 2
Brendan Barber. Is to 3.
My carving district
4 Council vice chair, Liz said
Hannah with us District 5.
Deborah take Sanders. District
6 Gina Driscoll a district 7
warri Givens junior. And
district day Richie Floyd.
>> Noon everybody welcome to
the OCTOBER night 2025 City
Council meeting if we can do
roll call please clerk and
heard here party here.
What's your if Sanders here
fiscal year. Given this year.
Today we will have our
indication given by pastor
Louis Murphy senior from Mount
Zion progressive missionary
Baptist Church.
Followed by a moment of
silence, then please remain
standing for the pledge of
allegiance.
>> Heavenly father.
Create a tool of the heavens
and the Earth. Create of all
mankind.
Law you on awesome GOD.
It got uoi healer.
We store
you the Prince of peace and
we're just so grateful and
thankful. That we
can be College of children.
And will we thank you for
the men and women who have put
they hands to the plow to serve
community. Blessed to City
Council. Bless our mayor.
We thank you for the men and
women who are laboring in your
Vineyard as we celebrate
clergyman but
we need you not only in a city.
We need to win a state in a
nation. We know
that you all love help us to
share that love with one
another in your holy name I
pray, and then.
>> Excuse me there is no
moments also please join me in
the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
I'm the guy indivisible
if the Justice for all.
Thank you please be seated.
Hasta Murphy that's what he's
talking about I needed it.
Thank you. Okay cast members we
have an agenda in front of us,
I'll entertain a motion for
approval.
Move back in. We have a motion
a second season or the council
members wishing to speak clerk
could you please over machine
for voting.
Council members present your
votes. Seeing is all present
council members voted clerk
police telling announce the
vote.
>> Sure the motion to approve
the agenda passes unanimously,
okay.
We don't have a consent agenda
today. So we'll move into
open form clerk could you
please read the rules.
If you wish to address City
Council and subjects other than
public hearing. Rick was Ida
digital items listed on the
agenda please sign up with the
clerk. Only the individuals
wishing to speak they send it
open sheet. Only city residents
prop
owners of the property. His
owners of the city where the
employees MAY speak all
issues discussed and open form
must be limited to issues
related to the city of Saint
Peter's Rick government.
If you speak into it tonight
I'm on the agenda.
You mainly speak once during
the open form when the time
comes up on the agenda in order
to provide an opportunity
for all citizens to address
Council. Each individual be
given 3 minutes to speak and
after which the microphone will
be muted. If you wish to
address City Council through
the zoom meeting. If you must
use the raise hand feature
button in the zoom app or
interest are 9 on your phone at
the time to adjust to it is
addressed when it is your turn
to speak, you'll be a
new did and asked us take your
name and address. But the
conclusion of your comments
when you have reached a 3
minute time limit. You will be
muted. I'll raise his will be
lowered after each agenda item
regardless of the method
participation used normal rules
apply including the 3 minute
timely comments. The
requirement that any
presentation materials must be
submitted in advance of the
meeting and the rules of
decorum it's like public
comment is disrupted violation
of the rules of
decorum the chair is authorized
to accept public comments by
all means including by email
Hooley and MISTER Chair we do
have a speed okay. Thank you
very much.
DR. Perry Washington.
He's come to the podium state
their name and address for the
record. We'll have 3 minutes to
dress Council.
>> My name is Harry g
Washington. I will not give my
address the cut that
that that Cain
I will not be assassinated.
I'd say it did many times do we
have
to goal with it again.
Please give your cross streets
DR. Washpost first re in mine.
There is no for Street and
main.
Street in central.
Okay proceed. DR. Washington.
I would risk.
For planning. Concrete
in my all y'all.
>> You can mark a moment not
only in.
To get to the Manning concrete
in my own yard. Biden saying
Peter Bernard Foley's the
caught that didn't want that
count next to be panic. Fit
fans in my yard, he told up my
fan, what that permeates
watching. I asked him to stop
it. They say it
we don't know that to you.
I'll shoot DR. Washington
please address us into the
microphone and not the audience
thank you.
>> When I last 7 months.
I didn't telling everybody and
then Miami.
>> I want to go to trial.
I had 3 attorney that
interview. They wanted me to be
guilty. So what.
I came and told you all because
you have a pseudo.
Dead no thank
They are left to do.
And put them in time would know
it and people in the town.
When it did have a row.
dead people.
You can send about this.
That building downtown.
You have a good thing about the
bodies.
I go to
everybody and
Look at home and around the
state.
>> Thank you DR. Washington
anymore, speakers, former
speakers. Okay we're going to
move on from open forum.
And we're going to move
into awards and presentations
and we're going to start with d
one our student ambassador
program student presentation on
the turn it over to David
Thompson who's going to
introduce the item.
David welcome.
Good afternoon council members.
I am very. I am very pleased to
welcome our student ambassadors
to
to for their presentations as
many of our council members
knocks I think even our
new councilmember did this
himself.
We.
Sponsor 3 students to go to
talk to my to our sister city
in Japan and as part of
sponsorship they agreed to a
presentation for you all to
talk about their experience.
What they learned and how they
were able to represent the city
so gives me great pleasure
to introduce our students
Rachel from Osceola fundamental
high school Jared Jackson from
the Lakewood
high school I know mayor is
listening and Jada from St.
Petersburg collision but all
proud to represent St.
Petersburg small turnover.
Thank you welcome.
Thank Still
I'm Jada
and I'm Jared.
Of the caucus in Japan. So I
want to start by saying thank
you to the city and dispense
for providing us with such a
life-changing opportunity.
Today I want to talk about
family life while abroad
because it was most impactful
part of my trip. My family was
solid.
I wanted to highlight the
dinners we shared because the
depth they added to my
experience, a dinner every
night my host moment Cook
dinner, and we'd all sit around
the table and even after dinner
is finished and the place for
put away. We sit around the
table and talk for hours.
It was during these
conversations that I got closer
than I ever could imagine with
the family in such a short
amount of time and it's on my
greatest honors that
even miles away, I know
someone's American daughter.
On the rare occasions we did it
out I was lucky enough to try
conveyor belt sushi and the
picture you can see and it just
as fun as it looks on mine.
I open only aqui featured above
and even on the
last night I cooked chicken
parm and let's just say my host
family was very shocked by the
amount of cheese in the dish.
Next I want to talk
about excursions that my host
family took me on. As you can
see there I went to a high
school
baseball game which their
stadiums are insane and any
time our team which was high
school was on the field you are
standing and moving and doing
these chairs and I just think
that the energy we need
to bring to my high school
football games. Next is too of
the jury took some beautiful
photos in the reflection pool,
and the future photos me and my
host family. We also did candy
making with jade and her host
family and friends and we made
was on bond which is a special
type of sugar that was crafted
by
the handmade wooden tools were
holding in the picture. We even
had a fluffy pancake breakfast
because my family knew that
that is my favorite meal and
last through into a bonsai
nursery which had the trees
that have been growing for
years and they also the hefty
price tag. But I bought my a
little bonsai tree and which is
seeing the picture and we
decided to name it. Peter
after St. Petersburg to
represent the strong bond we as
a family and the 2 cities have
forms.
>> So next I'll be talking
about cultural differences that
I noticed while in Japan, but
for someone to acknowledge that
these are pictures of
me and my host family that I
stayed with so nearly every
house in Japan. There's a
designated room at the entrance
of the home where you remove
your shoes before you enter the
main part of the home and they
MAY offer slippers
to guess or you can just wear
socks. My host family's home
there was a smaller version of
this room on the side
entrance and then we removed
our shoes. Coming from outside
from the back yard. The second
thing I noticed was that Japan
is a very welcoming culture and
they are
very big on giving gifts Jared
Leto and
I had disappeared from our host
family will once we arrived.
I was able to meet 2 of my host
sisters friends and they had
gets prepared to give me one of
which was a lot of Japanese
snacks and I definitely did not
expect to receive the mountains
gets the I did receive.
So the next and I'll be talking
about school and sports day.
Every year schools and
to participate in the sport
stand. We did sports. Stay with
the Daiichi high School and the
talk of months the city
gym where we played volleyball.
But it was a very popular sport
in Japan and there were a whole
bunch of different tournaments
with in the talk about the city
gym. The next day we went to
die too high school to
experience a full day of school
in Japan in English class Jared
written
I did a presentation about St.
Petersburg didn't I had pe and
played volleyball in Dodge ball
in Japanese Dodge ball is very
different from the American
Dodge ball. And at the end of
the day the students have a
cleaning period where they
clean the classrooms, I also
saw some of the students clean
the
stairs hauling even the
bathrooms and after the
cleaning period. They have
after-school activities were
I'm a leather bracelets and
Jared and Rachel participated
in can do.
And I will.
And I will be talking about
food.
If anyone knows me I'm a very
big foodie and the food
in talk about who is certainly
something to talk about.
The very top is sort of temper
and beef cut let that we had at
as we were making soba noodles
at a at a making someone else.
And the top right is a tune up
cupcake that Rachel has that
region ahead as we were hiking
is yes to a mountain. Below
that is the sort of Japanese
cooking that jada's host family
made for. Well that is the
years, the specialty of the
neighboring city that me and my
host family went to go see one
of the 13 remaining wouldn't
castles in Japan and their
specialty bone-in chicken to
the left is that me and my
husband other can we made
together
next to that is the charge to
done that but that me and my
husband can went to a ramen
restaurant to enjoy. Next is
the coffee dealing with ice
cream and a shrimpton for a new
Guinea that both me and my host
family went
to conveyor belt sushi which
again is as just as fun as the
videos and pictures make it up
to me and to the left is to
pour a soda and a bowl of green
onions that I very much enjoyed
after the sports day at school.
Not only is food important but
eating dinner with the host
family in our families and
dinner in it. In general are
important and the top right is
me and my house by their Ken
cooking together below that is
me and my host family enjoying
Japanese barbecue and open to
key together as one to the left
is me my host further can and
one of his friends enjoying
ramen at one of his friends
ramen shops and above that is
me and my host brother who came
over here trying to do enjoying
the bone of a stake.
Eating dinner with a host
family was not only way to
enjoy each other's company, but
also a way to get to know each
other better.
>> So along with our personal
experiences. We also want to
share all the amazing things
that the city
of talk about who prepared for
us. So this slide is all about
mountains gardens and more and
more the natural things we did.
And the top left you can see
return garden, which
is a Japanese national garden
were we had a authentic
experience in a beautiful tee
also looked out into the lake
and then you can also see a
very large bonsai tree sitting
atop a rock which are guy
described as a fluttering
crane, a sitting on the back of
a turtle. Our guide was also
one of my favorites and he was
kind enough to let us practice
or Japanese introductions on
him
and give us a stamp of
approval. And the 3rd vote over
its are and you can see
probably the best view from the
garden and even though is rain
on the day when it was just as
beautiful as it would have been
on a sunny day. On the right
you can see magazine the island
and this is a special Island
that holds the tale of moment
or peach boy who led the
leftist family to go fight
demons but he beats the demons
in a battle ultimately wins
said that maybe as the island
motor fall on which is why it
is also known as Devon Island.
It is home to the only guy
schmuck cavern which the
opening of it can be seen
above. We also want to talk
about to Castle. We also
received a tour inside the
Castle. And lots of the council
structure been rebuilt or
restored such as the tower
that's a guard tower you can
see far back in the photo and
that's also a photo of the
garden which was very
beautiful.
>> When we were spending time
with her host family we
participated in a city of tents
in the middle is we don't
making where me Rachel nj to
all got to have our hand at
making good on. Although we did
not make good food on it was
still a lot of fun, giving it
our best and making wooden
to the theme of ymca one of the
first things that we did was
the prefecture Museum where
Rachel in jeddah got to try on
a traditional 12 later Japanese
kimono and I got to
try on a traditional Japanese
samurai helmet and also
pictured is the 2 swords that
me and Rachel fought each other
with.
Along with that we also got to
play with dep Japanese toys
and a traditional Japanese
instrument. And that's a very
right is the city dinner where
we got to present our
presentations on Rachel's
natures and preserves jada's
downtown and by for that.
After
giving up presentations to the
City Council and our host
families we got to enjoy a
dinner hosted by by the City
Council. 2 each
with the City Council and our
host families.
>> And lastly I'll be talking
about our experience hosting
the Japanese students. Mitchell
had the same student but she
went to go visit saawan endured
and I had
2 different students, and high
So we went to the Duncan
maclean glassblowing where we
got to make paper weight
and we got to design places.
Well.
And we were also able to go see
the glass exhibit, I was there.
We also went to the Dali Museum
which the students definitely
loved and they were very
interested in seeing all the
artwork that was there. We also
are able to go to Saint Pete
Beach in the evening where we
got to eat plan the water and
play in the sand and we also
got to watch the sunset.
We also went to Busch gardens
and had a nice movie night at
Beatles House and a barbecue
night at heriot House.
>> goes I've got.
>> Jeff I MAY just why quick
and for that you guys ask any
questions just want to
acknowledge that this really is
a community effort and a labor
of love for the city and want
to thank Council for allocating
the
funds to allow the students to
go suspense and their parents
who do all the work to get them
there in the trust that place
in the city in sending their
students for
14 days across the other side
of the world and also to the
community partners you heard
some of the places they went to
Dolly
Duncan McClellan studio, some
of those things are given by
these places because they
believe in the mission of the
program, some of them we do pay
for and I do want to emphasize
to any student who is listening
that if you the that this
presentation was interesting to
you do not let price be a
factor. The city pays for the
travel the lodging even if your
home is not one that you
might want to buy the family
into we have former host
families say I want another
child to experience this I
would be happy to be the House
that that person stays in so
that child can go to talk him
out so in experiences so we
really do want. All of our
residents to feel like this is
something that's accessible to
them.
Congratulations what at what an
absolutely phenomenal
presentation. So here's my
here's my question for you with
everything that you got see
over there and everything
experienced over there.
Give me something that you
brought back the you would like
to incorporate into your
family, what about that culture
just moved you enough be
brought back your parents and
said we need to do this.
>> And out say I guess the
schools how they have cleaning
period at the end it makes it a
lot easier and it
teaches them like a nice like I
guess it's they have lots of
discipline in them so I think
it would be nice for us to like
book okay don't want to clean
the school.
>> It's a it's a good concept I
think it's really good that
they do that.
For me I definitely think that
the sitting down the dinner
table something in my family
need to do more maybe less and
from the tv Trez of so that was
like honestly is the time to
reflect and talk to your family
members. I think that's
something I want to instill in
my family more in so it's a it
was a great moments actually
get to know them even though
you know staying with strangers
so.
>> I am what I am with Rachel
in that spending more time with
family talking with each other
and. Experiment with new types
of cooking definitely. Thank
you to the 3 of you for
representing Saint Pete we
greatly appreciate it. Thank
you chair letting us
councilmember get in. Thank you
Rachel thank you Jerry thank
you Jada for
representing St. Petersburg so
well.
I have no regrets j to reading
your letter recommendation
because I think you shine so
brightly
you represent the sunshine to
the so well, you know one of
the things that I remember when
I went to represent the city
of St. Petersburg as a student
ambassador to talk him out to
2009
was the similarities. You all
highlighted a lot of the
differences that we have with
our.
Here's overseas in Japan.
But while you were there did
you notice any similarities
between you and your peers, you
know in a world that seeks to
divide us based on Billy's race
nationalities, religious
origin. Did you notice that you
had anything in common with
those he went to school with
and who you live with.
>> I think because I feel like
Japan's up a very smart country
and you know how an American
the students that
don't like certain subjects.
I was able to speak to a few
students in this so just that
they don't
like either think one of them
was it was like ancient
Japanese they did not like
learning and writing about the
new like the old it's like a
are like.
Unlike Shakespearean like old
English but it's there like all
Japanese and they do not like
that class.
I think that's like some way
to like within the youth there.
>> I can think of you thank you
for that Jay to appreciate it.
Another thing I've noticed what
we're inching our interests my
host brother in Japan was
interested in computers and
cooking.
I too am interested in
computers and cooking so a lot
of our interests are very
similar same thing with the
kids at school were interested
in various hobbies or subjects
sports. All of us had were very
similar in that regard.
>> I'm kind of 2 things one is
deeper ones, not these.
So in the first So like one
thing is you still communicate
with your eyes a
lot like something would happen
means all of that. Like you
know when they look at each
other and like it's like you
can see you can talk without
speaking. But on a goof your
level the
high school kids still love to
gas up there like to have a
boyfriend. How many dogs you
have to measure something and
they want everything like they
were just like asking a million
teenage questions, I'll
just say that the same in that
way.
Thank you for sharing that and
you just remind us that there's
more that unites us than what
divides us. And that's what I
learned when I went overseas
we had very fact bin and it was
very popular and so my hose
brother and I we bonded over
Anna Mae and as a matter of
fact we still maintain contact
to this day so I encourage you
to maintain those bonds
that you've established with
those families overseas and
then lastly just remember
wherever you go from here these
international relations that
you farm,
those are transferable skills.
So whether you decide to go in
study political science
Communications international
relations whatever it MAY be
just know that the training
guard ground started right here
for you in St. Petersburg so if
there's anything that we can do
to support in your future
endeavors. You have a City
Council that back she said
thank you so much I got to
thank you.
>> Well I just before we move
just want to quickly. Thank.
>> Steps and the city and my
colleagues for the continued
investment in our youth and
then
2 or 3 students.
I just I'm always blown away by
the presentations that come
back to Council and just so
proud of the 3 of
you and thankful for the 3 of
you and and
very excited to see the future.
For all of you and so thanks
for everything you do thanks
for representing us in excited
to see what's
next for you guys, thanks so
much.
Okay we're going to move on the
deed to our clergy appreciation
month proclamation and for this
we're joined by our
mayor mayor County Welch.
Thank you MISTER CHAIRMAN and
Council.
The safety team and all members
of our community and students
you'll make us proud. I'm
honored to present the
proclamation for
clergy appreciation month.
To those in the faith
community, the importance of
one's
faith and its impact on our
personal growth and our ability
to
manage life challenges cannot
be overstated close your key
partners in building a
caring uplifting community.
I like to invite in a
nomination, a ministerial
alliance of Florida
PRESIDENT Reverend j c
Pritchett and other us team
members of the clergy to please
join me in voting don't come up
Afternoon APRIL. Well it.
Thank you all for your
leadership.
The proclamation reads whereas
the city of St. Petersburg
includes a thriving faith
community led by faith leaders.
His contributions help ensure a
better life for residents and
for future generations and were
asked for the faith community
faith is a guiding light in
every season. Both in times of
uncertainty
and challenge and in times of
prosperity. And whereas our
clergy teach guide minister and
help us.
Build a compassionate and
caring community exemplifying
respect and love for others
despite our differences and our
believes and whereas our clergy
dedicate their lives to
supporting their congregations
investing their time and
energies to help ensure their
congregations can be purposeful
purposeful
lives that are comforted.
In times of adversity and
whereas the month of OCTOBER
has been recognized worldwide
as clergy appreciation month.
Our city is proud to celebrate
our diverse faith community.
And those leaders who are
important in our
lives and communities across
our city. Now therefore I to
wilt mayor of the city of St.
Petersburg Florida do hereby
proclaim Oct. 20 25
as clergy
appreciation month in St.
Petersburg and urge all
citizens to observe
this month with appropriate
activities. Celebrations and
acknowledgements that honor the
compassion dedication and
energy faith leaders in our
city. Thank you all for your
great work appreciating them.
Thank you
mayor and Council.
2, 2, things I want to lift up
this is year 100 for the inner
denomination minister light so
we're celebrating a 100 years
so we are grateful for this
recognition secondly I want to
introduce a new pastor to our
city. The new past it who's
been here too much at first
Presbyterian Robert Galloway
has joined us Robert and then
especially for us to have one
of our power in 2 years in
ministry
with us today. Bishop players
Pennington she's going to give
our comments for our clergy.
>> Good morning good afternoon.
This is a day
that the Lord has made. Let us
rejoice and be glad in it.
This is such and honor
and week Sept
with gratitude and humility
to carry on the work. That got
his assigned us to do. Thank
you so much for this
recognition.
>> Pennington so good to see
you as always into each of you
thank you so
much welcome past Galloway my
good friend fits Connor over in
Tampa passes that first
Presbyterian so we welcome you,
I'm so happy to have each of
you here today as we recognize
the work that our clergy.
Do in our community. We
recognize as members of the
clergy nicely on the cloth with
you that the job is not easy.
a lot of times it's a daunting
task that you don't get paid
enough to do. But we certainly
appreciate you, we know that
the work is plentiful. But I I
thank GOD for the labors that
he has planted here in the
Vineyard. Thank you so much
faster or the for your
leadership and for your mentor
ship and MAY GOD bless you each
of you in the work that you do
thank you so much Sir.
Thank you.
>> I'm just so thankful the
proclamations that it really
best, I mean I'm just so
thankful for the diverse just
plethora of faith leaders that
we have in our community and
getting to know.
Almost all of you personally
has been just one of the true
blessings of my life and so
thank you for what you do each
and every day each and every
minute for our community for
your.
For
your churchgoers just just know
that we share in the joy of
those
moments and then the tearful
ones too. And we're just so
very
thankful for your calling and
you're even more important your
willingness to listen to the
call. And so thank you so much
and we're celebrating you
today.
>> Okay we're going to move on
to deep 3 are domestic violence
awareness month proclamation
and then be given to us by our
vice chair, vice chair him
once.
>> Thank you chair. I would
like to invite Larry on the
foresight with the ceo of Casa
i think he is somewhere you
there she is and John long the
vp of abuse services for hope
villages of America
to join me here at the podium.
>> You know before I was a City
Council member I worked for
many
years as a prosecutor. When you
work at the prosecutor's office
and you start as a young
prosecutor and the misdemeanor
division. They're 2 path you
can take
at some point when you're there
you can handle domestic
violence cases along with the
other cases because the
handover it cases but the
method violence cases are go to
traffic court and
a lot of the attorneys that go
and star at the state
Attorney's office go to the
domestic violence unit, the
fact that there is
a domestic violence unit.
That handles cases at the state
Attorney's office tells you
what you need to know. Because
it is something that is among
us everywhere
you MAY not see it. But I will
tell you if you go to the
courtrooms if you go to the
agencies that provide the
services you will see those
victims out there and and there
are many victims out there that
their voices are never heard
that they never make it to a
courtroom. And so today's the
day to bring awareness to that.
I want to thank
all the agencies here both
present and not present that
provide prevention and to raise
intervention support. In
domestic violence area also the
law enforcement agencies that
work closely with
the agencies with the state
attorneys. This is truly
an area that it's not just one
group of people that's going to
work it's a lot of people.
So this affects not just the
victim. But it affects families
it affects a community.
So with that being said I would
like to read the proclamation.
Each OCTOBER we come together
as a community to observe
domestic violence awareness
month recognizing the profound
impact think violence has
on individuals families
businesses and society. Whereas
domestic violence is a pattern
of abusive behavior in any
relationship that is used by
one partner to gain or maintain
power and control over their
intimate partner and whereas
domestic violence is pervasive
issue that affects millions
regardless of age gender race
or socioeconomic status, and it
requires a collective
commitment to raise awareness
provide support and seek
justice for victims. And
whereas we honor the strength
and resilience of survivors and
acknowledge the tireless
efforts. Virgin of
organizations and advocates who
worked to end domestic violence
and provide safety and support
for those affected. And whereas
the city of St. Petersburg
supports organizations that
provide resources. Safety and
advocacy to domestic violence,
survivors and
their children. Now therefore I
share with that hand with some
behalf of the mayor Kenneth t
watch of the city of St.
Petersburg do hereby proclaim
Oct. 20 25 as domestic violence
awareness month and urged all
citizens to actively
participate in scheduled
activities and programs
sponsored by local agencies to
work towards the elimination
of personal and institutional
violence against people.
Thank you for all you do.
>> Thank you MR. CHAIRMAN and
council members thank you for
having us here and for the
Pa Commission we appreciate the
awareness to a very big
issue in our community. We
talked about some of the
numbers and 70% of domestic
violence cases are never
reported so they're happening
in our community.
All the time for those that are
reported Casa were one of the
largest domestic violence
agencies in the state of
Florida. Last year we served
over 3,000 people at our agency
we served about
540 people in our shelter, half
of that is always children.
One of the issues that we have
with domestic violence because
the numbers are so big for
every 25 people that call our
hotline. We are only able to
shelter one of those people.
So it causes we started a
family Justice center will be
can offer wrap-around services
for survivors even if we can't
provide the shelter because we
are always full, we can
still help with other types of
services, including rehousing
906 people 2 housing programs,
some of which she well-funded
so thank you for that
additional assistance,
the issue here is large federal
funding for services like ours
is being cut and so we ask that
you do remember us and think
about how critical these
services are as we move forward
into the coming years so thank
you to anybody have any
questions for me.
Are you gonna make any
comments.
Yeah we'll do comments and then
we'll go to questions. Thank
you very much. Sure and I just
echo it and say thank you for
the support from the city.
Has shared we know that this is
an issue that continuously
grows. So how do we stop it.
One of the things that we
really focus on is that
prevention key. We have a
program that goes in
the vp case in elementary
schools. Last year alone they
served us all about 3500
students. During that time
there in that classroom they
they sing goofy songs and
they've got this goofy puppet.
But they're just teaching these
kids that its not ok to use
your hands use your words not
your hands find a safe
place of things are happening
to your house. We do this
project with them where we show
them a picture of a house and
we say if some at the adult in
the House are fighting where
would you go to a safe place.
It's the kids often in my
bedroom or the kitchen is a
very popular place that they
pick. But we've had kids that
say I can't go hide.
I've got to break up the fight.
And so we've got 5 year-old 6
year-old that think that
they're the referee at the
family. Of the family. They
have to get
involved they have to stop the
violence. And so we started
that very young age just making
sure that kids understand that
there's a different way to
settle things we've
really focused lately and in
Jordan Park and just now
joining Park area we've seen
about a 70% increase of the are
in takes that are seeking help
that are victims of domestic
again I appreciate the support.
The ongoing support. There's
more work to be done. So thank
you thank you.
>> And thank you so much Larry
for the work that you and costs
are doing.
For years even before you know
my time here on Council I've
had the opportunity
to volunteer there. Your thrift
store and I just know all the
work of a patron so thank you
so much and I want to know how
can those who are listening
both here in the audience and
at home if they want to be an
ally and lend a helping hand if
they want
to stop the violence how can
they help.
Many many ways you talked about
volunteering we
have many different volunteer
opportunities, a fun way to get
engaged with costs as actually
we have a scavenger hunt in
downtown St. Petersburg
shop local right on Oct. 25th,
that's a fun way to
spread information about
domestic violence and make sure
that people who have a need for
our
services can get in touch with
us but we do have lots of
volunteer opportunities are you
need to do is reach out tests
at any point in time and it
runs the gamut of working
directly with survivors
in the shelter. 2 working in
the thrust or so plays to reach
out to us if you'd like to get
involved and humanitarian
donations, I'm guessing you're
accepting those as well always
yes, thank you, thank you
chair.
Thank you.
>> Well downstairs I I I'm not
sure that you've got to hear my
comments Mike my comments to
the group.
Before we came upstairs were
we're celebrating a few things
and then there's a few things
that I love to eradicate off
the face of the planet that
we're talking about today, this
is one of them. And so.
Although we haven't gotten
there yet.
Thanks for fighting. The good
fight. Both of you and so and
your organizations and all of
I know that the breath of those
is wide from
employees the volunteers
contributors. And if we want to
do that if we want to eradicate
it and we're not gonna be able
to do without partners like
you. And so. Just for me, I'm
very thankful for both of you.
Thank you so much for being
here. Thanks.
Okay we're gonna move to d 4.
Fire prevention awareness week
proclamation and
back with mayor Welch.
Back MR. CHAIRMAN and Council
we continue with the community
safety theme and I'm honored to
bring a proclamation in
celebration.
A fire prevention week. This
year's campaign
is quote charge into fire
safety. Lithium ion batteries
in your home
end quote works to educate
everyone about simple but
important actions they can take
to keep themselves and those
around them safe.
From home fires. I'm joined by
chief deputy chief breast
cestkowski chief was headed to
some emergency travel. So he's
not with us. And members of our
Saint Pete fire rescue team,
the very best in the business
yacht show them some love
please.
>> Fire marshal Womack will
share some information about
Saint Petersburg's fire rescues
efforts to prevent fires in our
community through education and
outreach and details about
their upcoming block party
event taking place this Sat. At
Walter Fuller recreation.
And the product and the
product keep it down West West.
You know sort of make sure you
knew or what and the
proclamation reads whereas the
city of St. Petersburg is
committed to ensuring the
safety and security of all
those living in and visiting.
And whereas fires a serious
public safety concern both
locally and nationally and
homes are the locations where
people
are at the greatest risk from
fire. And whereas most of the
electronics using homes daily,
including smartphones tablets
laptops power tools e-bikes
e-scooters and toys are powered
by lithium ion batteries
which if
misused damaged or improperly
charged can overheat start a
fire or even explode. And
whereas the National fire
protection Association nfpa
reports an increase in battery
related fires, underscoring the
need for public education on
the safe use of looking in ion
batteries and whereas residents
should follow 3 key calls to
action. By only listed products
charged battery safely and
recycle them responsibly to
prevent battery-related fires.
And whereas lithium ion
batteries store large amount of
energy in a small space and
improper use such as
overcharging using off-brand
Chargers without safety
certification or exposing
batteries to damage can result
in fire or explosion.
And whereas the proper disposal
and recycling of lithium ion
batteries help prevent
environmental hazards and
reduce fire risk in the home
and community. And whereas the
2025 fire prevention week theme
charge into fire safety.
Lithium ion batteries in your
home serves to remind us of the
importance of using charging
and recycling lithium ion
battery safely to reduce the
risk of
fires in homes and communities.
Therefore I can into Welsh
mayor of the city of St.
Petersburg do hereby proclaim
Oct. 5th through the 11th 2025,
as fire prevention week
throughout the city and I urge
all citizens to check their
homes for fire hazards, you
safe practices and to support
the many public safety
activities and efforts of the
great St. Petersburg fire
rescue department. Thank you
all for being here.
Appreciate that the fcpd fire
rescue. Members of Council for
giving us an opportunity to
reinforce this message
publicly and focus on fire
prevention month. Started as a
national recognition years ago
when America was literally
considered to be burning.
So the effort of focus time
stand down to really focus on
fire safety. And this year
focusing on lithium batteries
who has won in their home.
Everybody is it's an android
>> The man known that you might
not be the one speak Prowler.
>> You we're seeing less
frequency with android's yeah
us not validated those quote me
on that. It's a real issue and
it's a real safety problem just
to share with the community of
the fires we've investigated so
far this year 28%
have been battery related.
So it's a real issue we're
seeing an increase in a lot of
that increase is being driven
by the use and the
proliferation of
lithium ion pipe devices.
So that safety message is very
very important some things to
restate that
you mentioned in the
proclamation use only the the
charging equipment and supplies
charger cables that
come with the device from the
manufacturer. Oftentimes when
charges go bad people replace
them on Amazon and you have to
remember the charger has to be
properly calibrated to the
battery in your device or it
will overcharge it and it goes
into a condition called thermal
runaway, but you can't stop at
home and it's going to end up
in a in a more catastrophic
event for you e-scooters
e-bikes store those outside
please don't put the hose in
your home find summer away from
the House outside the store
them if at all possible, don't
leave these devices unattended
when you're know don't plug
your phone and by the bed at
night and go to sleep. You want
to pull these devices off of a
charger once they've once they
fully charged charging 2 on
non combustible surfaces.
It's a very very prolific
problem right now, but it's
also very solvable problem with
a couple of these simple steps
we can really make an impact
think about that reduce 28%
incident of local fire the
communities right here in
Petersburg with an awareness on
that so we appreciate the
opportunity to highlight that.
I do want to take a moment to
thank this being fire
prevention week. All of Saint
Pete fire rescue participates
in fire prevention every single
day all 400 plus members of our
organization there are some
members that it is all they do
every single day and I think
it's important to draw
attention to those. We have our
public education outreach
specialist folks here what
you're very familiar with as
well our deputy fire marshals
are we got some of ours field
inspectors here that go out and
do thousands of inspections in
the community. Every year
looking for fire safety issues
to help solve those. We've got
plans examiners that review
plans to make sure that things
are built constructed.
According to the fire code and
also a team
of arson investigators. And
fire investigators and helped
us to find cause and origin
identify issues like battery
issues and help us to craft
code that then can overcome
that so I appreciate the team
in all the work they do daily
hoping to actually prevent
fires in the community and
thanks for your time and I will
restate again the block party.
This is our big comeback party
because we had to cancel last
year because of the storms so
we invite everybody in the
community come out and help us
relaunch our annual block
party. It's this Sat., 10 to 2
at Walter Fuller Park. Thank
you.
Councilmember Givens.
Thank you so much and happy
fire. Prevention awareness week
to each of you thank you so
much chief your presence and to
each of you all and your
rightful places. Back in MARCH,
I had the opportunity to go out
with a few
volunteers and some of our fire
personnel and we went out into
the child's Park neighborhood
which I believe ranks 17th
nationally and number one
in the state of Florida for the
highest homers home virus and
so what that means is because
of the socioeconomic conditions
in the proximity to a fire
station child's parks homes
have a higher risk of catching
fire. And so we went out there
and we
installed over a 170 lithium
power batteries which have a 10
year lifespan. And so what i
think you all are doing every
day is you're being proactive
about saving lives and I thank
you so much for all that you
do you risk their lives to save
other lives and for that we say
thank you so we're grateful for
each of you thank you very much
Sir. Thank you.
>> Thank you, thank you.
Mayor for the proclamation and
to our Fire Department for all
that you do. And
I'm very happy that lets him
that the that the batteries are
the focus this year because.
As he says cusk it's I've asked
about this before.
>> It is a growing concern and
28% of the incidents this year
related to that.
>> I'm hoping that this is
going to launch a big
communication effort because I
think it's really just
about knowing. Some of the
things that you mentioned
you've omak and and
understanding what needs to be
inside what needs to be outside
you know the phone charger
thing and
then also disposal that's
something
that is really important so I
have so couple weeks ago I
changed out. 2 of my air tags.
Yes chief a Mike there will be
Apple. Tags.
So I've got the old batteries
and they're like still sitting
on the counter because I'm like
I got to remember where I'm
supposed to take these.
Do we have can you drop them
off at any fire station kind of
like the police station has the
drop-off for old
prescription meds.
That kind of thing do you have
The great question and thank
you for highlighting that that
was a keyboard player for a
disposal writes oh, yeah oh to
call to the number 2
recycle all one word call 2
recycle dot org and find out
your closest spot to properly
dispose of lithium ion
batteries. And that's actually
currently on the group.
>> Great yeah, maybe we can get
that out there and then I'm
wondering and I'm sorry I
should have looked before.
But the Saint Pete collects app
that many people have on their
on their phone did remind you
when you have to take your
recycling out and things like
that there's a like a waste
wizard or you can look this up
is that do you happen to know
if that I'm not gonna look all
we're sitting here but don't
know that that's on there but I
will tell you it is an issue of
the.
Few recycling facility fires
that we have had over the years
generally leads back to
better disposal issues. Yeah.
So that staff needs to go
somewhere else and so I'm just
wondering if someone whoever
handles that
the app because so many people
have it and I just want to make
sure that that's listed
on there as as for for that
information that that would be
perfect and the touch on your
earlier point to as we continue
to identify
the hazards and risks to the
community.
Those public safety messages
will We've communicated
throughout this year about the
with him on fire son. The issue
that's growing and as chief
Mike identified so
we will continue those efforts.
>> I can't wait to see you guys
in the videos
that will run on Saint Pete tv.
>> Mack the you said something
about e-scooters and
e-bikes should be kept outside.
If you could give a little bit
more
context to that because I I
don't think they necessarily
have to be outside all the
time. And when they're being
charged where it should they be
because I'm thinking about them
being outside in the rain,
not such a great idea.
Yeah so what I don't want to
see them is in a bedroom, our
department. You know the
reality is is that has the
potential to catch fire and
because of that thermal runaway
win that device starts to
smoke. There's nothing the
homeowner do can do to stop it.
It's going to end up going into
an explosion it's going to
release toxic gases and it
contained room a small
betterment will make it
untenable very dangerous from
the health and survivability
standpoint and also the fire
conditional escalate very
quickly so it is we're seeing
that is somewhat common
practice, right people people
are relying on these a lot and
they live in
apartments and they're bringing
them inside the House with
them. So it just increases the
risks I don't have a good
solution, but I think it's
important the public knows what
type of risk there assuming
when they bring those devices
into the home.
>> It'll be interesting to do
some research and see if there
are other cities. That have
come up with some. A brilliant
idea that we just haven't
thought of yet.
Yeah there's quite a bit of
code development work being
done across the country right
now to try to address the
lithium ion issue some local
jurisdictions have have even
created a local ordinance where
you can store those devices
inside. Specially when it's
apartment building stuff.
I don't know if those are good
solutions. I will say this
sprinkler protected buildings
can help contain that event to
the area of origin. So those
are
absolutely lifesaving features
as well and and there's
manual studies and laboratory
studies show far to indicate
the sprinkler can't can't make
the fire not occur, but it can
keep it contained in the area
in which it occurred. So those
are very effective as well.
All right well.
You just keep working to make
sure it doesn't happen in the
first place. Thank you so much
for thank you all for all that
you do thank you chair, thank
you.
>> Chief I'm going to I'm going
to be the shining example of
what not to
do in 2 instances because over
the last year and
I have had to lithium battery
experiences. One was during
hurricane Helene
my best friend went out of
town. And he wasn't here the 2
days before the storm the day
leading up to the storm I went
to his house my wife dropped me
off down the block because
there was already a foot of
water. In the streets, I went
and the energized his home
because we were worried
obviously needs got all the
things right. And so we come
back. I think 2 days after the
storm because it took him a
couple of days to get back into
town.
Get into the house to all these
things
we re energize the House with
actually f the treasure Island
ft there to make sure
that we're doing it safely and
get all the stuff out of his
house because House is ruined
at this
point right took on 3 and a
half feet and left the House
they Wed. At a buddy South that
night came back in his house
was destroyed burned down.
Because that left one thing
plugged in a children's toy
that had a lithium ion battery.
It's crazy granting like you do
all the right steps up to the
last one and something bad
happens. Now
I couldn't make fun of my best
friend and feel good about it
without making fun of me.
So talk about air tags
I have never had one before.
I got one as a gift and it
wasn't popping up on my phone.
And I'm like oh what must be
dead. So I put it on my watch
charger got into the shower.
That blew up my watch charger
and so up this is.
This is a girl this
guy problem we need to read
directions more. And so I'm
just very appreciative of that
campaign and highlighting this
because just
the simplest little thing
right. I mean you make a lot of
really really good decisions
and one okay one not you know,
let just less than ok and it
could be catastrophic. And so
my my point in bringing these
stories is. It can happen
anywhere anytime to anybody.
And so I'm just very thankful.
I totally read reiterate
councilmember Givens comments
about the work that you guys do
every single day and making
sure that dumb bombs like me.
Make it through to the next
day. And so thank you so much
for everything that you do and
and just know that you continue
to have our full faith and
support so thanks so much for
being here.
They were
clapping for you not my
decision making.
Okay we're going to move on to
the 5 we're going to talk about
national lead poisoning
prevention week councilmember
Harding thank you chair.
>> For those of us who have
been around long enough to gain
the wisdom that I have chair
Gerson a para administrator to
Santa Fe that second time
getting picked on.
It is nice to be able to talk
about things that that we have
made enough progress on that
have the ability to go away.
We talked about we talked about
domestic violence and that's a
battle that will fight forever
and will do our best to to to
to to
make ends and to make progress
some things are are a little
bit are a little bit easier if
they have champions and in this
case they do back in the in the
40's and 50's
and 60's Weise to build houses
would let him. They were it was
a cheap metal and pliable and
we built it into moldings we
built into window cells.
And it turns out that that's a
really bad idea. But it takes a
champion or it takes a group of
champions to to really bring
this to light and then do the
work to to change the way that
we do things
and in this case. The city has
been the city like
other municipalities has been
as as held a hand in this the
building code is how the hand
in this and in groups like the
healthy homes coalition have
held a hand in this. So I so
our Park our proclamation today
whereas lead exposure in
children, especially those
under the age of 6 even at very
low levels MAY damage the brain
and the nervous system
resulting in hearing speech and
behavior problems and
whereas lead exposure to
children can result from
multiple sources, including
drinking water from corrosion
of lead service lines and a
variety of everyday consumer
and commercial goods and
whereas lead based paint and
the contaminated dust that
generates and homes and soil
represents one of the most
dangerous widespread sources,
the exposure affecting children
and whereas lead poisoning is
preventable. The key is to keep
children from encountering
lead. And there are simple
steps that can be taken to
protect all family members from
lead based paint hazards in the
home and where is education and
awareness about the dangers of
lead can help protect the lives
of children living in St.
Petersburg now for now
therefore I Mike Hardin
councilmember on behalf of
candidate. He was mayor of the
city of St. Petersburg Florida,
hereby proclaim Oct. 19 through
the 25th 2025.
His national lead poisoning
prevention week and urge all
citizens to actively observed
this week to enhance public
awareness of lead poisoning
prevention and the ways we can
protect our families from lead
poisoning and encourage all
citizens to support lead hazard
prevention efforts throughout
the city and year-round.
>> Thank you on behalf of the
cities. Housing and community
development Department I'm
honored to accept this
proclamation recognizing
national lead poisoning.
Prevention week. Lead poisoning
is entirely preventable.
Get it continues to threaten
the health and the
future for children and
families in our community.
South Petersburg is within the
95 to 100% percentile
for lead paint pollution.
This proclamation affirms our
city's commitment to education,
early detection safe housing
and coordination action to
eliminate these lead hazards.
I want to thank the mayor City
Council. And our city's healthy
home coalition.
Our community partners such as
the Department
of Health for their leadership
in support together we're
advancing the goal of ensuring
that every child in St.
Petersburg grows up in a
healthy
safe and thriving environment.
We hope that you will all join
us at our get the lead out kick
out event Sat. Oct. 25th, you
can come there.
The slay have some fun think
a shopping downtown for pasta
from noon to 4 will be a
child's Park recreation center
where there's going to be
family fun, community resources
and it is finally the
opportunity to learn about our
lead paint remediation grants.
Thank you again for this
recognition for your
partnership in building,
healthier future for all of her
residence.
>> Thank you doctor sliker.
>> Cancer awareness month
proclamation, and it's going to
be presented by your own chair.
Here Curtis.
Thank you MADAM By Cher and
joining us. We have
some representatives from a
couple local hospitals from Bay
front Orlando health. We've got
Jamie hershberger the
associate. The associate chief
nursing officer and
Matt let we're there in a
governmental and then from Bay
care more implant we've got
Peter Blume and DR. Peter Blum
Krantz who is the medical
director of the Bay care cancer
Institute and Tim McMahon who's
the director care cancer
Institute and also joining me
this. This afternoon as my wife
Cecil eagerness. So.
5 years ago yesterday. Our
lives changed very drastically.
My wife was diagnosed with
stage 4 lobular breast cancer.
She's my hero.
And before I get into a
little bit of that story.
I want to talk about our
heroes. The doctors, the
nurses, the researchers who
have
supported us along this
journey.
Let me tell you there are a
couple of them that we would
not have been able to get
through the way we did without.
Our team has been amazing and
so to all of the doctors and
nurses here and those that are
listening you're changing the
world and you're changing mine.
On a daily basis.
Breast cancer is one of those
things that in my opinion.
Not only changes you.
Emotionally
physically not not just
physically inward but
physically outward and so.
Going through this process with
my wife.
It was clear to me that this
not only would we be dealing
with this for for certain
period of time but we'd be
dealing with it for the rest of
our lives.
And that's just because of
frankly the the emotional and
the physical scars that come
along with it. And.
I need her to know.
She is loved
and cared for. And we'll
continue to be until the day I
take my last breath.
And I don't want to make this
about me. But I think sometimes
who we don't talk about are the
spouses the families the
friends, the kids that affects
as well. You're going to hear
in a minute some stats about
one in 8 women is that has as a
breast cancer diagnosis in the
last 5 years we have had 3
close friends in our world be
diagnosed a 4th just wrote a
stakeholder in this community.
And so it it's amazing.
What still lies ahead of us.
One of those friends.
And so she was diagnosed just a
few months after my wife.
She she received amazing care
and is in remission today.
Thank the mayor for bringing
this forward I want to thank
Council for giving me the grace
to celebrate my life and being
a be a little selfish.
But anytime I
can get her up here and talk
about what an amazing woman she
is and I'm going to go one step
further because as you know
just over a month ago she lost
her dad. And so not only is my
wife a breast cancer survivor,
a mom of 2 a husband to me or
excuse a wife to me
which that should be at the top
of the list of things that are
difficult.
She is an accomplished human
resources director for a local
company. And right now she's
the defacto ceo of Len Thi
liquors after her dad's
passing. And let me tell you
just 2 or 3 of those things is
enough to have all of them.
His incredible a miraculous.
And I'm not going to look at
you Cecil eagerness but I love
you very very very much.
And thank you for everything
you do for me in our family
and your family. And I am on
this journey with you.
Till the very end. And I love
you very much. Here's the
proclamation.
833 American men will develop
breast cancer at some point in
their lives or one person.
Every 2 minutes.
Breast cancer touches. So
many lives in our city and
county. From our loved ones and
friends to our neighbors and
co-workers who have survived or
lost their lives to breast
cancer. And whereas thanks to
earlier detection and better
treatments. Mortality rates for
breast
cancer have decreased in the
last decade. And whereas
affordable access to screenings
and early detection for all
women is an essential component
in the fight against breast
cancer. And whereas the state
of Florida recognize the need
to provide uninsured low-income
women ages 50 to 64 with access
of to lifesaving cancer
screenings such as mammography
and cervical cancer screenings
through its breast and cervical
cancer program or be ccp and
whereas the Florida Department
of Health and Pinellas counties
be ccp performs life-saving
screenings yearly and has been
recognized as one of the state
the state's top programs.
We stand with our mothers.
Our daughters.
Our grandmothers, our sisters
and our friends.
And our wives. Supporting their
struggle after a breast cancer
diagnosis. As well as
recognizing the doctors.
The nurse ers the researchers
and all other health
professional whose care and
dedication gives hope to those
living with Brett breast
cancer.
Therefore I Gehrke hopefully
Curtis on behalf of Kenneth t
Welsh the mayor of the city
of St. Petersburg do hereby
proclaim Oct. 20 25 as breast
cancer awareness month
throughout the city and I urge
all residents.
To educate themselves on
prevention and treatment
options of this devastating
disease. Thank you.
I'm gonna ask doctor bloom in
grants to come up and say a few
words, MADAM Vice chair, thank
you.
Thank you so much. It's an
honor to be here and I want to
thank mayor
chair and council members for
having us.
It's really wonderful to
celebrate with all of you.
On behalf of a care in the
camps into it I can tell you
that you've got Anthony has
your back yard here since 19 31
in glad to have that
contribution to community
health care of everyone around
here on a personal note.
Having take care of close
friend. I can tell you I've
been surgical practices that
hurt my colleges for over 40
years of operation, thousands
of women and then in
important and then don't forget
male breast cancer in this
County
and I will tell you that one
thing never cease to amaze me
and that's the strength of the
human spirit because in the
worst adversity no one wants
to hear that c word and the
strength that women and their
family show to get through this
is remarkable in the worst of
circumstances. The wonderful
news is things are getting
better when I started my
training up in New York, it's
on Kettering. We did radical
mastectomies everybody have
their removed they were
terribly disfigured and now if
you catch it early and you do
good screening. We have over
95% cure rate and you can have
an outpatient small on taking
out maybe a lymph node and go
home the same day go back to
the committee's next day.
That's remarkable. It won't
take too much time at the one
new thing we're doing. There is
evidence of the past couple of
years that
women of young age under 50.
The incidence of breast cancer
is increasing we're not sure
why it MAY be something genetic
or environmental, and by
mental, but we are starting a
new program just launching
which have been a pet project
of mine as a high risk
assessment project. This is
powered by software, something
called cancer iq where patients
or anyone in the
community can go on a tablet or
phone scan a qr code answers to
the questions and then a few
minutes, we'll know if they're
at high risk for any one of 9
candidates, including breast
and then we can get at them
early and the goal of that is
instead of the presenting
disease MAY be some states 2 or
3 or even 4 when it's
metastatic if we can find the
people at risk before they have
the disease we could start
screening sooner. We can often
of its breast cancer detective,
a bracket mutation which leads
to increased risk. They can
have preventive surgery never
do with cancer in their lives.
Our goal.
Sheens that curve we're going
to move the curve of stage
disease back. So that's really
good.
Councilmember Harding
thank you chair.
Look it's thank you you mention
that the. Talked about human
spirit.
And and I think that that
we saw that that's been around
forever. You also and not to
diminish and but but we've
always had the fighting spirit.
He said things are getting
better and they're getting
better because of you.
That I appreciate the efforts
that they care makes it in
making
this an important part of their
business model. I appreciate
all the
support that goes into what we
do. But it is it is your
profession and as you that that
is
is fighting this problem and
making this something that the
next generation doesn't have to
face.
>> Thank you all for everything
you do honestly shared earnest.
Thank
you for your heartfelt words.
Definitely you are seriously a
hero
and amazing and I agree with
everything you're has been said
I can understand why he would
not turn around. I can barely
sit up here like
some of us and hold back tears
but the work that doctors do
you have a a group of people
that are behind you
and and everyone here honestly
wants to see this erratic hated
just like here. Curtis said and
and I know that we're on our
way be fun with doctor Saint.
So thank you. Thank you.
Okay.
>> And next up we have the 6.
>> The preschool officer
program updates. And this is
going to be presented by Earth
Williams for kids world
preschool and Jackie
Lang imagination station
daycare and and I will hand it
over to councilmember fake
Sanders, this is her item I
believe this is first of all
good
afternoon, everyone and thank
you for all that was presented
today and they saved the
best for last are young people.
>> So we are going to have our
pups program as well as MISTER
Devine Miller, but I'm going to
ask. This author Ian Williams
as Jack Elaine, and I know I'm
going to say this wrong.
Officer Noor rachna and I
was told to just say officer
Meng to come on up with this
program is is back in
2021. We had a rash of gun
violence and we had an enough
is enough movement. What we
wanted to teach our community
about the importance of gun
violence but one of the things
that we found is that.
A lot of the ease in the
anxiousness
started with our babies started
with our young households in so
they understood the fact that
police officers we're in
control but they didn't have
the correct
understanding of why they were
there. So we started the police
officer
program affectionately call
pops where they had strong
interactions with our men and
women in blue and every time I
get to go and see
them have don't just going read
books they actually go and have
fun and I've noticed over the
past 4 years, the relationships
have changed with not only the
children in our men and women
in uniform with the parents as
well. So with that I'm going to
open it up to the south region
Williams to showcase
what our police officers are
doing without preschoolers and
they have been doing an awesome
job and I want to think Saint
Pete Police Department on think
chief for saying
yes when I called to ask but
MISS Out 3 and then have a she
has a waiting list of officers
that are willing and I'm so
excited about that. Is Williams
Good afternoon mayor Welsh
City Council members and
guests. I'm often going
Williams owner and
administrator of kids were all
preschool and learning Center.
And this is.
Missed decade, laying owner and
administrators of imagination
station preschool. We would
like
to thank council member big
Sanders, but giving us the
opportunity to share with you.
The story
and the impact up a program
that has truly touched the
lives and hearts of our
children, our families and
staff and would not have become
a reality without the diligence
of councilmember big Sanders.
The program and she said his
preschool office of program
that we call
pops Potts was launched at kids
whirl imagination station and
11 other preschools in AUGUST
of 20 21 with one
simple
go
to build positive relationships
between our youngest learners
and Saint Pete's fine us.
The police officers who serve
our community since its
inception.
Over 100 of at kids world vpk
students have participated
in this incredible program
and imagination station has but
80 to participate.
The concept is simple. Yet
powerful.
Once a month. Our police
officers visit at preschools
there's no script. No structure
of mess and plan and no the
malady just
button and up
take interaction on the
playground. Our children see
them laughing being silly
and enjoying being a part
of the every day world. That's
what makes it so meaningful.
Our children get to see that
officers people
just like them. They have
families that much they like to
play and they care deeply
about our community. Example of
that is they here.
They don't have to be.
They are here because they want
to be. But some of that
children. They have only known
police offices through
negative. A stressful situation
involving mostly
their family members.
Pops gives them a new
perspective. Children
who wants was hesitant
and now they have the biggest
brand they went up to the
offices, the hoods and I always
ask the question. Police
officers coming today.
I t's
the offices because we're
actually assigned one officer.
One office the net. But we end
up with full of bags.
And I tell them.
It is so so say that you all
have
to call back up 4.5.
I don't see I tell him I don't
see that many cruises it crams
The beauty of pops doesn't stop
with
the children. They have become
an inch of coal pot
about kids world family.
They do not just visit once
a month and then disappear
until the next month. They
have participated in that
annual trunk or treat. We also
had a day of fun in the day of
fun was really fun. They
brought the horses they wrote
the Cayman. They brought the
Dick staying what you see now
that Dick
that Mustang and Camaro and the
police officer
who had that car. Police
officers came to me and say you
know what he'll make nobody
touches cop I know that
I mean to tell you it was
Shannon. It was said,
they said do me a favor.
Take-home kids over there and
then put the hand.
I said now you want to get me
in trouble and this in no
please do it. So that's exactly
what media but
the bottom and was. He had
a spray bottle and awake.
So when they finished he got
his spray bottle and his red.
And they
did bass the cooling helmet
giveaway the officers there was
a grant and plat for the grant
and they were
able to get the grant. So every
one of the p k students last
Christmas got bass tickles
and the helm and also
they've done the car seat
giveaway because that too yeah
parents it increased the lotion
did not have custody. They
statement maps. They just
didn't caught just in the seats
so
we had the giveaway also they
are at all about the pk
graduations cheering our
children on and
there is this. There's this a
stash closet. They have it the
station. They fenced up in the
stash clouds it and bring it to
the school as well. So dep
presence, their presence.
Cnn's a strong message
that police offices aren't only
bear when something goes wrong.
They also there to celebrate
with us point everything is
right. Our parents over the
years its share how meaningful
this program has been with them
too. They have see it
that their children come home
excited to talk with them about
the officer friends.
The pops
program has strengthen the
connection between kids world
and our Police Department.
It has fostered a sense up
partnership. We at
kids world, a grateful to the
dedicated offices who make 10
children. Each month
and then some.
They show up eager to connect
and that commitment is truly
making a lasting impressed
impression. On behalf of
kids world's kids staff
families
I would like to say. Thank you
city councilmember Debora Feig
Sanders again sheep Holloway
sergeant Beatty
officers murdered though when
caught and others or the
support and for believing in
the of connection
together we are making a
difference. One preschooler and
one positive experience
at a Ted. At this 10 I would
like to bama whites to come up.
We have something for each of.
The City Council members and
what you get your bag.
>> over here, yes.
>> That 2 young ladies is
sporting the 2 Vaness those are
my 2 teachers vpk.
And we want to
group picture with these as
>> I has said it all, but again
greetings from imagination
station preschool.
Like a parent
it warms the heart to see your
children are
students social and emotional
growth florish their
interaction with these officers
built trust
memories
Mark's curiosity and lots of
conversation. One specific
interaction vividly recall was
one of the officers, pushing
one of the children on the
swing. I don't think he
realized that
his gym workout was spot on.
After about 3 pushes I'm not
sure if it was the officer's
physical strength. The fight
and the child. But the child
and the swing seat started to
separate. But the officer and
a split second caught the child
and the world of a preschool.
The lesson plan is only on
paper because this was a
perfect description
of a trust lesson. Really we
again would like to thank
council member Debora fix
Sanders for your shared vision.
I'm building bridges between
law enforcement and our
youngest citizens and again
officers and council members.
Thank you and we're grateful
for you and your service.
>> Both of us would like group
pitchers with just shirts, you
know make sure you send it to
Jackie.
Not now me go.
Know that this is about to get
council member Vincent.
We have one of the I'm sorry go
ahead.
Good afternoon. My name is Nora
Brock and I've been with the
Police Department for almost 11
years. Currently signed a
community service division and
avert been participating in the
pops program at imagination
station preschool since the
beginning of this year
participating in this program
is honestly one of the most
rewarding part of my job.
It's a chance to connect with
young members of our community
and a fun positive and relaxed
environment. Kids at their age
are still forming ideas about
the world around them by
playing with them not just
talking at them. We show the
police officers
are approachable kind and safe.
We're not just
people the scene emergencies
were part of their community
too. These children are gaining
trust and learning that the
police officers are here to
help those small moments of
connection MAY shape how they
view law enforcement for years
to come. Pops isn't just about
playing on a playground.
It's about planting seeds of
trust building relationships
and strengthening the bond
between police and community
starting with our very youngest
citizens. Thank you all for
supporting programs like this,
they MAY seem small but they
have a very big impact. Thank
you. Thank you.
Good afternoon council members.
>> My name is Earth when I've
been with the city St.
Petersburg Police Department
for over 2 decades. I'm also a
veteran of the United States
Army with the 26 years, a
service. Thank you for the
opportunity to speak about the
program that's shaping both
parts and communities. This
program brings
together our youngest learners
community law enforcement
officers in a way that builds
understanding respect trust and
air. In the very
beginning when children sees
officers, 9 uniforms but has
been tur's helpers and friends.
It changes the way to view
safety and community service
for the rest of their lives.
The program those more than
2 children it strengthens the
bond between families the
preschool and those who protect
us. It reminds all young once
that leadership is by caring
for others and that every act
of service. No matter how small
makes a difference. Together we
are helping too not just grow
better students but better
citizens neighbors and future
leaders. Thank you for your
support. Thank you.
>> And some are fixed centers.
Thank you again I just want to
say thank you, but I also want
the other men and women in view
to place to do so that we can
acknowledge you as well.
As we always have so much fun
whenever we're there and you
always show up so again.
Thank you, thank you, thank
you to follow is not here
because he did not have to say
yes, but he did so I am so
grateful for you I'm so
grateful for missed out their
Marine is Jackie that Deeks
enough of your children
to want to give them positive
experiences with our St.
Petersburg Police Department so
thank you so for the parents
as well so I do appreciate that
thank you chair, thank you.
Councilmember given thank you
chair and thank you to my
colleague for bringing this
forward thank you MISS Laying,
thank you so much MS. Williams
for being here good to see MS.
Vicki. And
it's so nice to see the kids
here.
I am. Anytime I get to see
positive rapport being created
amongst our police officers and
children in our community.
I had the opportunity
park walk and talk with
sergeant Matthews and a couple
of rcs owes this past week
through Jordan Park and one of
the things that I noticed was
that we had a group of kids
who were willing to speak to
police officers to approach the
police officers without fear or
intimidation. And then there
was the group
of kids who did not want to
approach the officer because
there were adults standing
behind them saying don't talk
to them.
This Lane, thank you MISS
Williams, thank you, thank you,
thank you to all of the
educators in the different
preschool directors who have
opened their doors. So that we
can Foster truss
and we can work to prevent
crime because I believe that
when you have proactive
measures like programs like
pops. These proactive measures
help to combat crime
because now you have children
who trust our officers they see
our officers as resources
in this community
as people who can be trusted
mentors and so I think the men
and women in blue
who sacrificed their lives who
put their lives on the line
every day you're not just
raising your children but
you're raising the villains and
I thank you so much because it
takes a village to raise a
child. Thank you so much chair.
>> White who just want to
quickly say thank you to MISS
Williams.
It's letting up.
All of our officers and cpd
representation from Saint Pete
pd this is awesome update so
happy to see the
work that's being done. I'm
just going to stop there
because everybody said it so
I'm not going to hit the repeat
button but says the massive big
thank you and thanks for the
continued working looking
forward to seeing some more
kids next year when we get
another update. Thank you so
much.
>> Okay we're going to move in
2 d 7 an update from the von
Miller, a local children's
author and I'm gonna turn it
over to
councilmember fix Sanders for
this one too.
Thank you I wanted to bring a
lot of good news the day
everybody and so it also gives
me honor to introduce is young
man who has been quite busy.
You know we always think about
our young men and what they
don't do what I just want to
showcase and celebrate this
young man young man for
everything he has done. He
wrote his first book at 11
years old and he has a book
series he has different animals
and I'm going to let him talk
about MISTER Taking the Todd
clock. But I want
us to celebrate. This success
is in the positive
energy in the positive
experiences that our young men
in our teens bring to us now
he's no longer teen Devine
around you. Currently I'm
23. He's 23 Stabenow in to help
with just that long and I was
introduced to him but MS.
Author Ian Williams, who
actually help showcase the
divine because we had him come
in read his book to some of our
children and he's going to tell
you how many books he has and
what he's been doing. And we
were successful in getting him
in the rays activity book so he
has really really really been
visible in I'm so proud of
divine so I want to make sure
that you also just why I was so
proud
of his accomplishments, MR.
Miller.
Good afternoon everyone.
Thank you so much for allowing
me to be here with you all
today. It's a pleasure and an
honor to speak in front of all
City Council members that
really warms my heart to see
family. Friends and supporters
of my work, I've known as the
perfect Sanders for quite a
while now some saw 2020.
Around the starting a campaign
to help other black authors
also assisting and providing
books to children in the area.
I'm truly thankful for support
as well
as community support as I
succeeded with a goal of mine.
For those of you don't know why
I'm my name is the von Miller.
I was born and raised in St.
Petersburg Florida. Ever since
I was a young kid I loved
reading books before I was born
my mom would read to me was in
her womb which our tribute to
my love of reading. Eventually
as a young child and I was in
preschool elementary, start to
write my own little books based
on the stories and world that I
would gravitate towards on
television books, various other
media. Eventually got to the
point of my elementary school
years but I was writing and
drawing so much but I would
start writing 100 page stories.
Always share them with my
friends, they're always a lot
of by them because I was always
seen with a notebook in my
hand, someone suggested to my
mother but I should think about
having a book published.
Entry school. We have a
substitute teacher name is
Linda. Mobley that turned out
to also be an author. I was
super excited to hear that and
I eventually told that I like
to write as well. She
eventually connected me with an
author of hers in Vernon
County. And I presented him
with the idea of MISTER
Typically talk clock which
became a series about a
right-wing both clock, let's
read and talk time as you can
see areas right here.
So not too soon after, I'm not
from the Spalding another
children's author, this plane,
the publishing process and help
me to find a publisher
published my first book, MR.
Tiffany talk look tonight, MR.
Clarke at the age of 11 Apr. 24
team. The original book will be
followed up with 4 more books
before I graduated high school.
Series I wanted to try
something different which
eventually became my first and
on both of us can't t and off
the liberation of voucher.
This book originates from 6th
grade we had a lesson on
figurative language and the one
that I gravitated towards was
alliteration so I felt that it
was such
a playful and fun language.
So I decided to write an alert
of sentence for every letter of
the alphabet and eventually
that process is what led me
into writing the story of this
bus driver, hoping these 3
zeroes I see here
journey back home. This was my
first book to be published on
my own publishing company Petra
novels. Another fun fact, my
editor for this book also
edited for the hunger games.
When I was an infant I was
diagnosed with severe asthma
which caused me to be in and
out of the hospital constantly
because of doctors and nurses
were always there for me.
I wanted to give back to the
hospital and whenever I did a
book signing part of the
proceeds would always go to
John Hopkins all Children's
Hospital
and benefit of awesome.
Something that was important to
me than ever that a book
signing was always giving back
to the hospital. At the age of
17. I partnered up with
Chile's for the good news for
the good cause initiative we're
20% of the proceeds will go to
John Hopkins all Children's
Hospital from dined at the
restaurant. And last year I
have the pleasure of continuing
to invest in the lives of
children Dawkins all Children's
Hospital. So is able to do a
live read a lot of my book that
was broadcast at the patients
and hospital and during that
event I donated money to the
hospital as well. Continuing on
with my impact we have actually
had imagined twenty-twenty
children's stories a campaign
to help end the African
American authors during the
rise of the hashtag black lives
matters movement.
Raise over $2020 and donated
the books purchased a local
elementary schools with in St.
Petersburg Florida. Received a
wonderful community support to
this initiative, including from
us to perfect Sanders where we
first got connected.
In NOVEMBER of 2021 got to
assist Magic Johnson Marlo
Hampton with their Thanksgiving
events they help to feed our
local community in St.
Petersburg Florida.
In 2021. I partnered up with
the Tampa Bay rays and
participated in the reading
program reading with the race
during that here. I read my
books love virtually, and it
was shared on the rays website
on their socials that same year
a few of my books were seen on
display at Tropicana Field and
the reading with the reception.
Those even highlighted
and the Tampa Bay times
newspapers in education with
the Tampa Bay rays. As of
publication highlight of my
first book work has also been
published in the Tampa Bay rays
magazine inside pitch. In 2022,
the rays assisted me in giving
back to the Ronald McDonald
House during the holiday
season. Since 2023. I've been
the opening reader for
in-person reading with the
reasons as I read alongside
Tampa Bay rays players. One of
the readings my book was even
translated in sign language so
everyone could join the story.
And 2020 for 2025
had the honor of being a judge
for the regional spelling bee
sponsored by the Tampa Bay
rays. A
few other recognitions
and athletes have had during my
include the following. In APRIL
twenty-twenty myself my
book MR. Took the top clock,
the magic library was
highlighted in a promo
for has but stories which was
an initiative created by
actresses Jennifer Garner and
Amy Adams which celebrities
would read books on social
media to raise money for
children that don't have access
to meals during my team.
I've also received letters from
barack and Michelle obama well,
a middle school after they
heard and learned about me as a
young children's author.
And finally I became a sunshine
about Sir for the city of St.
Petersburg because of my work
in the community. Thank you so
much to my mom and died for all
their support and my other
journey truly thankful to
everyone who supported me over
the years. Also thank you so
much to GOD. I'm incredibly
grateful that I get to share
stories with children and
families. I'm incredibly
touched and moved by the sauna
here today. Of course happy
National book month everyone.
Thank you.
All the outside we actually
have a few gifts for all the
City Council members here.
And of course we also have a
very special gift for that's
terrific Sanders as well thank
>> Both the van while we're
getting those handed out I just
wanted to quickly just they won
thank you for the update and 2.
It's pretty a pretty incredible
what you've achieved. At 11
years old.
I'm not sure I read a
full book yet rather than rent.
Rather than written one, and so
just what an accomplishment and
to see the growth and what
you've done over that if you're
looking for Smith's affair.
Just so proud of everything
that
that you've achieved and you've
done and can't wait to see
what's in store next whether
it's a new
book or the next iteration of
one of the books but thank you
so much for coming and sharing
your story and all the
successes and we're wishing you
the best of luck you can't wait
to hear what comes next man,
thank you so much.
Okay council members we're
going to move into
new business for the day.
We're going to go to
g want to referral to hers from
council member driskell.
Thank you chair for this new
business item I m.
Respectfully requesting or
referral to the health energy
resilience and sustainability
Committee for a discussion on a
new citywide
energy efficiency and clean
energy initiative, providing
cost savings to in reducing
energy consumption for St.
Petersburg residents to add to
that I just want to make it
clear that this is something
that I see having a discussion
on.
>> Panic in parallel with the
discussion about municipal
electric. So it's not an or
it's an a and.
So I just wanted to clarify
that in case anyone was
wondering if this is a
suggestion of an alternative.
It is not
and this is I mean
we can have the committee
discussion and with more
detail. But this is along the
same lines of.
The rebates
that we've we've done for and
low flow toilets things like
that in the past and then maven
is working on on
and insulation initiative that
I think will be very
interesting to add to that
conversation. So with that I
move approval.
>> Thank you chair, so
councilmember Driscoll I was
curious I had a one-on-one
earlier this
week with maven well one on for
I guess it was with MAY even
about the new energy roadmap
Grant
and so you know I've seen your
new business item obviously
before that and then I had this
meeting and so I was just kind
of curious about
the intersection between.
Those 2 programs how they might
work together is. There could
be a conversation including
maybe an update about how
that's
going at the time just because.
>> There's a lot of different
initiatives going and I think
that this one is
going to move pretty quickly.
No funding needed from the city
of chief Pete, but a lot of
engagement with the city of
Saint Pete specifically our
residents and our business
communities. So we're
very excited about that and I
just want to make sure that
we're not duplicating efforts
gifts. If there was some
synergies between that. Terrify
me absolutely.
Thank you well.
And I do have the perhaps the
same kind of meeting. Scheduled
for for next week to learn
more about that. But in in in
some initial communication.
It was agreed and identified as
something that can all come
together. So
rather than having a million
different programs out there I
want to see how my is can can
synergize with what they're
working on. Though this would
all and if.
We have an ideal situation will
talk
about all of that in the same
meeting.
Okay all right so you would be
planning and obviously
recognize you
haven't had that meeting yet.
You would be planning on having
as a comprehensive
conversation. Okay that is
correct okay all right, thank
you.
>> We have a motion a second on
g one seeing is no other
council members wishing to
speak or could you please she
for boating councilmember
sleaze and your votes seems all
present council members a vote
a clerk please telling announce
the vote.
If your motion to approve
agenda item g one passes
unions. Ok, thank you.
G to assure him once.
Thank you chair, my item.
I think most of you know the
public records act covers
virtually all state and local
governments and basically the
goal is to have transparency in
government so recently I had a
public records request and I
thought it would be good to
have a conversation and how we
handle public record requests
in general and understand the
processes involved so with that
being said I respect fully
request a referral to
the public services and
infrastructure Committee or
other relevant Committee for a
comprehensive report on the
city's procedures for complying
with public records requests
from initiation to fulfillment
and with that I so move.
>> We have a
motion is second on g 2.
Seeing is no other council
members wishing to speak clerk
please could you please open
machine for voting. Council
members because any votes it
seems all present
council members have voted
clerk please start announce the
vote.
If you have a motion to approve
agenda item g 2 passes.
Okay we're gonna go to g 3
we're gonna go back to council
member driskell.
Thank you with this one we have
a resolution that is attached
and so I'm actually introducing
that resolution tonight for
today. This one is.
A little story behind it.
You know earlier this year and
I was really I was inspired by
the
City Council's Salt Lake City
who past an ordinance to adopt
additional officials city
flags.
>> And.
To be fun to various times of
the year. And I thought that
that was. This is an
incredibly.
Bold move that they
made because it was 10 hours
before their state Legislature
passed a ban on specific flex.
And so having that in the back
of my
mind and then in JUNE. Our
wonderful Johnny in the
marketing department created a
very special flag for pride
month. That
just flew off the shelves.
I mean. I think we could have
ordered twice as many Andrew,
so wouldn't have had enough.
It was so popular so well
received an seeing the smiles
on people's faces. With that
flag was really quite touching.
And a couple of months ago of
course we had and.
The
array sure of our Street murals
and of course everyone was
talking about things that that
we should do.
I went to the
administration with an idea
because I said now now is the
time to act on this
and and so
I brought the idea of having
2 additional city flags.
Variations on the city flag to
be brought forward.
And I knew that we needed
to work quickly and quietly
because their levels of the
government where they have a
tendency to squash certain
things in the dead of night and
squash things
as a work in progress. But the
administration wanted to take a
different approach and was not
able to move quickly so I
knew that I was going to be on
my own with this without any
city resources. But fortunately
I have
a lot of great people out there
in the community who are
interested in this and working
My my
wonderful legislative aide
Brian. On this idea working
with
and and my friend and just said
to love our
community. The artist Andrea
Palos working with your lives.
He's got at the Woodson Museum
and others who gave their input
and worked with me too. Come up
with ideas for the flags.
There are 2 images
of the flags that are included
in the backup material.
The harmony flag. It is of
course and the flag that we
that
we used in JUNE this year.
Replaced in the middle with
our official city seal. So
that's the main difference
between the 2.
The lines were just a just a
little bit so that they would
match. The history flag, which
we wanted to be have a
consistent design. And.
Once Terry some of the.
The idea and we worked on it
too together and
she said it was good, I knew I
knew that we had a a winner
with that one for the history
flag. And again you'll see that
the official city seal is in
that. Now I do understand that
the administration is working
to.
Working too. Get additional.
Pride
flags along with a new black
history matters flag that would
be given out. 2 residents from
I think that was on the
I think that's been
communicated as part of a list
of ideas that the
administration was considering.
Yeah, I would have to check on
that yeah. So those are like
the ones that we give out.
The the flags that I am
bringing forward for
your consideration today are
the ones that would actually be
flown at City facilities and
certain times of the year.
There are some who think that
this might be a small thing.
The flag of the city is a
representation of its values.
It really speaks to our
identity. Our identity. It is
seen as something that brings
us together and gives everyone
a sense of belonging.
Seeing the response
that I got having to having to
work with quickly and quietly
on this. And now sitting
here and telling you.
The City Council has received
e-mails of support
from equality Florida, Saint
Pete pride. The woods and
Museum tig live.
The Tampa Bay lgbt chamber.
And many many individuals
who have expressed strong
support. Adding these flags.
As symbols of who we are in St.
Petersburg.
I'm really proud of the work
that was done.
By the community.
For me it was just an idea I
threw it out there. And people
ran with it. And.
Just the way that this came
together really showed me.
What a flag really means.
And I hope that my colleagues
will agree with me. And you'll
join me in.
Voting to pass this resolution.
Which reads whereas the
official flag of the city
of St. Petersburg was adopted
in 1927. And then redesigned in
1951 1984. And whereas the city
should 5 variations on the
official flag to represent a
shared sense of local identity
fostering a spirit of unity and
belonging and whereas
specifically the city should
find the variation attached to
this resolution as exhibit a to
signify harmony among all
in St. Petersburg.
Whereas that variation should
be known as the harmony flag
and flown
had city facilities at
appropriate times of the year.
And whereas specifically the
city should also fly
the variation attached to this
resolution as exhibit b to
signify the importance of
history. And whereas that
variation should be known as
the history flag and flown at
Citi field its facilities at
appropriate times of the year.
And now therefore be it
resolved that the City Council
this evening to use it for us.
St. Petersburg Florida
hereby request that the mayor 5
variations on the official flag
as described in the foregoing
race idols.
If this is passed today.
The images will then be
transferred to the marketing
department to create these
flags that would be flown Evers
city facilities.
The other flags that will be
given out to everyone we're
still we'll still be in
progress so it doesn't change
anything about that.
I think that I want to say.
Again I just think everyone
who was a part of bringing this
together to bring it forward
and to all of those who have
shown their support for this
work. Thank you chair. Thank
you.
>> So we're going to want to
put you on the spot, but I know
you have to leave early or want
to give you a chance if you
linger for public comment, okay
all right. We're going to
public comment let's call to
time please and Avila.
>> Please go to either podium
state your name and address for
the record. We'll have 3
minutes to dress Council.
MR. Vila had to
they have.
Good afternoon members. Thank
you. I rise to speak in favor
of the resolution offered.
As g 3 and today's agenda and I
speak today as a human and as a
citizen. He's grateful for the
people of our city.
Thank you councilmember
Driscoll for your leadership in
bringing this
resolution forward and today
reminds me again of my why we
are Saint Pete as we celebrated
so many amazing humans and
efforts and witnessed so much
joy here in the chambers today.
Thank you all for that symbols
and cities and communities are
crucial because they embody
shared values define collective
identity and Foster belonging
as acting. As powerful and
communicative representations
of who as a
community we are and what we
stand for these symbols
transform abstract ideas into
meaningful images and help
create shared understandings of
the community's history.
PRESIDENT And future.
I appreciate especially today's
resolution that brings forward
history and harmony together
I recognize our city like many
others have not always
recognized Nora had both.
Today's resolution is a moment,
however of our city's
acknowledgment. Our collective
work together and of our
aspirations. Of our cities
tomorrow, a future rooted in
our history. Celebrating our
shared identity as a city that
fosters unity and belonging and
that does so in harmony and
that is something truly unique
and special to St. Petersburg
I urge all City Council members
to the favor of the resolution.
Thank you.
Thank u next season, next.
Injury apologies. And Trevor.
Mallory is go to a podium state
your name and address for the
record. We'll have 2 minutes to
dress Council.
>> I'm Andrea Paulus I live in
greater Pinellas point
and I have for 23 years.
I'm a self-employed artist and
are prepared or handling arc
for most of the local museums
like the Dolly the James mf and
more I designed the flex
thanks Geena.
I'm in favor of approving them.
I designed and led the team to
paint the intersection at
Central 25th 5 years ago.
It was important to me to
design these flags when the
intersection was centered in
erased. Our city is changing
our country changes. And if we
truly want to be called the
city of the arch we need to
support artists. We need to
provide Foundation for
individual artists not
censorship. Art has power.
Artist or documentarians art is
a great communicator of culture
in value. Artist in Saint Pete
made this the city of the arch
we have created
the vibe. And we were here
before the Dali expansion
before the James before that
you Hooley in fact Dale Tooley
when he was in town
and 2003 to get ready to have
his first show at the mfa he
told me the art scene here was
so great. He ended up bringing
us a museum. These
2 flags are uncomplicated their
colors the history Fleck has
read for bloodshed, black for
heritage and green for
abundance and hope for the
future. That's what those
colors mean the harmony flag
has red for life orange for
healing, yellow for sunlight
green for nature blue for
serenity and violet for spirit.
The other colors represent
people of color and genders
there's nothing nefarious about
any of these colors or the way
that their range on the flag.
As the current mayor wrote the
5 murals
painted over were collaborative
loving and transform the spaces
that they were in. You can just
ask Liz Cooper and Jorge viewed
all from the museum. They lost
their pattern on their
intersection didn't have
anything to
do with politics. They resent
represent all of us and they
will continue
to represent us in new ways.
Nguyen resilient waste that's
exactly what he said. He's
flags are that Nguyen resilient
way so personally and
professionally. I will
appreciate your support on
this. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Trevor Mallory here and
I'm here in support of this
line item. I just think this
is a prime example of what
practice what you preach right,
we always say
that we want Saint Pete.
To be a seamless cities to
mount a case that you're
addressing stated for
I'm sorry your dress. 45 a 1,
6, 3, South 3, 3, 7, 0, 5,
Thank you for fun. So
when we always say Saint Pete
is a seamless city, this is the
prime example of what that
looks like these 2 flags
represent so much history.
That's under attack at this
time. So COUNCILWOMAN Driscoll
I appreciate you
for your bonus in your
strategic way of making this a
seamless back action item.
These flags represent not only.
African Americans.
But it represents
a tremendous amount of citizens
that need to see someone stand
up and support them in this
manner. And I definitely
feel comfortable about the but
history flag when you mention
you work with this with Terry
lipsey Scott who is a curator
of the DR. Carter g
Woodson african-american
Museum. So for me to know that
you took the time
to collaborate with someone.
That's we call a pillar in our
african-american community to
come up with this design.
It shows your courage to me
and to the community as well.
I've always heard. In the
community because I mean the
community that and I want to
say it that council member
driskell doesn't care about the
black community.
When news hit the news. I got
some phone calls that were
in reverse now
because you didn't have to do
this and for you to take the
time You said Salt Lake.
So that means you did your
research and you found a way to
make this acceptable and I
appreciate you for that and not
only do I appreciate you for
that but I appreciate all of
you on this diet is because we
say we are seeing Pete
we are seeing the city. This
will prove this to the
community and the constituents
that you are represent so thank
you.
Thank you.
The last 2 speakers is Kendra
darling, and Halloween, Please
state your name address for the
record you have 3 minutes to
this Council.
8, 7, 3, Newton South.
As stated my name is keandre
darling. Today I speak is a
4th generation and order of St.
Petersburg a proud descendant
of the historic gas plant
district. And a mother raising
a now 9 year-old son in this
city. First I want to say thank
you to councilmember Gina
Driscoll my councilmember
for presenting this thought for
resolution and for your
leadership in ensuring that St.
Petersburg continues to stand
for
unity inclusion and love.
Recently our city watched as
our beloved Street murals
symbols belonging symbols of
belonging and pride. We're
sloppily
spray painted over and a gross
misuse of power
by order of the governor.
Those
murals were not just art.
They were reflections of our
values. A message that everyone
who lives works and plays
in St. Petersburg is seen
valued and welcome here.
To say that their
removal was about safety was
not just disingenuous
it was insulting. Every day
residents here drive over
potholes packed roads and
fading cross walks.
Yet somehow colorful murals
celebrating unity were labeled
as dangerous.
Let's call it what it is a
distraction from the real
issues, a political stunt aimed
at erasing what our city stands
for.
On this
bright day in St. Petersburg
this resolution reminds us that
while pink can be stripped
away.
Our spirit cannot. The harmony
flag in the history flag or
more than designs.
They represent who we are the
harmony flag celebrates our
diversity and reminds us that
our differences make us
stronger. The history flag
grounds us in the struggles and
triumphs that shape the city
and ensure that we never forget
how far we've come.
I think this Council for
standing up for what's right
and I urge
both the council and the mayor
to keep finding bold in
creative ways to resist hate
and division
in this city. Let us continue
to show that St. Petersburg is
a city where unity is our
language where
inclusion is our practice and
where progress is our promise.
And no executive order can
change that. Thank you all.
Thank you.
Hi there. My name is Holly no
8, 1 one Placido
a Northeast St. Petersburg
pheben us 3, 3, 7, oh 04:00am I
appreciate the opportunity to
be here today. And it just
unity and inclusion.
Councilmember Givens
said were asked a wonderful
question of those 3 bright
students that got to travel to
Japan.
And it was a really smart
question. What did you have in
common with those kids in
Japan or with the cultural
components of your tedder and I
thought really it's a brilliant
question and it's really really
true.
And so I stand up here before
you today just as an ordinary
Petersburg citizen, I have
lived here sense. The early 2
thousands in fact I think we
bought our house in 1999.
So 25 years. I love
this town I love
being here but I I think
there's something really really
important. We use words like
unity and inclusion
but we're not actually
demonstrating unity include and
inclusion because not
everybody's included. And so I
just want to suggest that.
In this world
today in our country in our
cities. All across the
country we see division and the
stoking of in the framing of
that division and I would just
ask that week consider
the actual meaning
of unity and the actual the
reason that we all live here in
our wonderful town and the
things that we actually have in
common we're all citizens here.
You know
we enjoy beautiful, sunsets and
the freedom to you know walk
along the water's edge and all
of the wonderful restaurants
and there's so much in this
town. In this city and
I just feel like.
>> The.
You know terms harmony and
history are not inclusive
actually
of everybody and in fact.
I love our flag with just
the St. Petersburg seal that
was I guess most recently
adopted are edited in 1984.
So we just put that out there
to that let's look at actual
terminology and consider
really whether or not it is
inclusive unifying etc I love
my neighbors and I want to see
us all.
You know link arms and we don't
need to be called out for
you know what we are in in one
way shape or form why don't we
just all say we live here in
Saint Pete and were neighbors
and that's I think enough.
Thank you thank you.
If you are speakers.
We had 1, 1, to speak or worse
is here. All right. All think
Fonteyn once you enter into the
meeting space please state your
name and address for the record
and you have 2 minutes to
address to the council.
Yes, so can you hear me, yes.
My name is Paul fronting 36 to
22 Haines road.
Magnolia Heights.
I'm a game in St. Petersburg I
was one of the coordinators of
the sidewalk shocking event
the day that the mural 25th in
central was around.
The emotion that
we had that day was a mix of
joy in being able to to bring
callers back to the city.
But also a lots of frustration
and the angst.
As we saw a very visible symbol
of acceptance and love in Saint
Pete disappear
and I just want to say that I'm
in favor of this resolution
thank you COUNCILMAN Driscoll
as a side note
during that day I purchased 10.
And gave flags that I was
planning on bringing to
businesses and Central Avenue
to to put up.
I think get to it because the
event was so busy. So I decided
to post on facebook to give
away 10.
Flags and I gave away all the
flags too tall strangers
there's no one that I knew and
to my surprise.
Almost half of the requests and
I know it's a small sample of
10. But almost half
4 out of the 10 flags were
requested by straight
families. And I was very happy
about that and it does surprise
me so the flags
that represent certain
communities are important but
also know that you know is that
lgbt flag doesn't just
represent people that
our lgbtq it also represents
those allies which I'd like to
think are quite a large number
in the city.
I moved to Petersburg for years
ago because of the visible
symbols acceptance,
the world a lot of my friends
in Philadelphia said I can't
believe you moving to Florida.
And I said, but look,
yeah there's a mural on the
street with a rainbow flag, the
City Hall raises the pride flag
in JUNE. They're visible
evidence acceptance
and that was part of the reason
that brought me here and has a
real estate agent I bring a lot
of lgbtq people
into this city to relocate and
part of my marketing is to show
that is visible signs and I
would love to have them back.
I appreciate you listen to me
today, thank you. Thank you.
The council member hurt.
Thank you chair. I
I greatly appreciate the
passion.
That council member driskell
brings and I appreciate the
folks who came and talked today
and they literally hundreds of
of citizens who reached out.
Over the past week. I will I
will not be able to support
this item and.
And the reason very
simply is
we open this this meeting every
week. But the pledge of
allegiance in the last 2 words
are for all and
that flag like this body in the
mayor's office represent the
280,000 people who are citizens
of St. Petersburg we're a
diverse group worst diverse it
as as the rest of the country.
And in the city you'll find all
religions you'll find all
races. You'll find a
veterans you'll find wounded
veterans you'll find folks in
wheelchairs and we represent
them all equally. It doesn't
mean that we don't support.
Parts of our community. More
than others when necessary.
And I appreciate candor
darlings words about fighting
boldly and we do that as a city
but the identity of the city
belongs to the 280,000 people
who make up the city and that
flag is a representation of
that.
So that the idea that we're
that we're going to address
current events and what
happened with the murals in the
streets have slowly week.
We're going to find the right
thing to do we're going to find
the right statement to make.
But the flag a St. Petersburg
it is the identity of the body
that
is the government of St.
Petersburg and it and it it
needs to in my opinion be
representative of all 280,000
of us. So those are my thoughts
Sir, thank you for your time.
Thank you vice chair Harris.
Thank you I like to also thank
everyone who's reached out
who's here
and council member driskell for
bringing this item.
A couple weeks ago I am the
council member that sits on the
art advisory committee we had a
joint
meeting with the public arts
commission to actually discuss
ideas of how to respond to the
state that the state could not
come back turn around
and take away from us
and at that meeting just for
those who MAY not know what the
art advisory committee is for
the public arts Commission
there are lots of community.
Members who are artists who
know the space who have
fantastic creative ideas,
frankly I went there as the
City Council member that's
there for the art advisory
committee. But I wanted to
listen to them because they had
a ton of ideas and at the end
there was a whole Board of
different things and how we can
respond as a city and there was
it was a collaborative process
in terms of that meeting
and from that meeting they were
going to continue getting ideas
and then talk about those ideas
again at another committing so
we could get all the input from
these committees I know that
councilmember Floyd is the
council member who is assigned
for the public arts Commission
he wasn't there and I told them
you you fortunately had a
another you're traveling and
couldn't be there because he
would have definitely enjoyed
being part of that meeting but.
Having said that
going back to having a response
that the state cannot turn
around and do what they did
with the murals and
I will say I don't like it.
Now think anyone here like that
to be clear
and I think we also got a lot
of criticism for weather.
The mayor got criticism for the
response.
We got legal advice from our
attorneys and in terms of what
can be done in response to fdot
I will tell you
that the advice was there's not
going to be much you can do.
>> And I will tell you Delray
Beach who stood very firm has
now gone back and said they're
not going to fight it because
they don't see a legal path.
Legal issues are important
and I bring that up because
emotion and believing it thinks
is great. But then we have to
deal with legal issues and how
this goes forward so I want to
asked legal because I know
there was a 2 article that said
that legal vetted yes
Brett if you can just what was
exactly league ul's role.
In this. Council member
chair members of Council.
Are.
Office assisted in the
preparation of this resolution
and the same would way we would
any other that we've been
requested to prepare whether
its administration Council is a
body or an individual council
member. The role of our offices
to provide legal advice,
not policy direction. We work
to ensure that the form of the
item accurately reflects the
substance coming
from the requester you know
legally permissible manner so
for example when our office has
requested to prepare a
resolution supporting state
legislation. The recitals in
the statement of report of
support represent the direction
that we receive
and we package that and
communicate it and write it in
a manner that we
believe request the will of the
body. So the preparation of
this item was quite ordinary it
was a collaborative effort
involving multiple attorneys,
not something that I did
specifically are individually
and our role was the usual
one to prepare a resolution
that convey the substance
that we receive from
councilmember just won this
case.
Okay so in terms of the La
galaxy what can happen with it.
You know I think conversations
typically happen based on.
What is there. But
what I want people to
understand what is the power of
the state in the areas that we
are discussing both on the
flags.
>> So. Municipalities are
created by the state can be
abolished by the state
use ballot is to not have First
Amendment rights of their own.
So the state can require the
city from stating certain
things were prohibited
from stating certain things
state law currently
allows local governments to
adopt a seal and control the
use of that sealed the city
adopted its seal in 1921.
We're also empowered to there's
not a specific state law about
the flag
but to serve as general
home-rule powers. We adopted
the first flight in 1927
revised it in
1951 and then again in 1984.
There's been legislation in the
past 3 legislative sessions
that would restrict the flying
of municipal flags. Bills are
starting to file there's not a
bill yet. But it was the same
bill filed 2 sessions in a row,
if that bill
was adopted it likely would
present and prohibit the city
from flying the 2 flags that
are proposed here.
>> In terms of the.
Official seal because there is
a Florida statute that allows
us to use an official seal they
can also
change that statute and limit
the use of the seal correct
that's correct. Okay. So
the other.
Question I have in terms
of the flag. Can you
have more than one official
flag.
That's not a question presented
here.
Because these are variations on
the same way if the city to
celebrate the to commemorate
its
its or its founding were to fly
the 1927 flag of the 1951 flag
that would not replace the 1984
flag that we could enjoy just
because we used an alternate.
Who has the authority over the
flag.
That's not something that was
presented by this because it's
a request from Council to the
mayor and that's not a question
that we've determined at this
time. So those are at this
point not the tournament.
That's correct.
I just have
some real concerns in terms of.
>> Doing something that the
state's going to turn around
and completely preempt and not
only priya go for a year.
The conversations that we're
being had at the art advisory.
And the public arts commission
was to find path.
That we could do things that
wouldn't destroy something
again.
And to me that is a concern I
would love to hear from other
council members if they have
any fights but that's a real
concern I have because I want
to see a path that we can do
things
where it's not as easy as going
to the Legislature right now
they've got tried to do it 3
times now you're going to give
them.
One more thing where in MAY
take it over and they're gonna
say okay now it's it and now
we're going to preempt it and
once they preempt it
you're not getting it back.
Right now we can fly flags, we
do flight. The pride fact, and
we do fly. The Carter g Woodson
flat that's allowed and we're
doing it. So that that to me is
a real concern. Thank you.
Thank you chair.
So.
This whole conversation is
about unity. This whole
conversation is about history.
And so let's kind of dig into
that as it comes
to these flags a little bit.
All right so councilmember
handle its are vice chair
Hannah it's I'm glad you
brought
up the joint meeting.
I wanted to be a fly on the
wall at that meeting was unable
to but did
sit through it and give me some
pretty detailed notes. There
was a lot
that was brought forward.
And every conversation that I
have had within the community,
including a meeting that I went
to very well attended
last week pride in real estate
where it took several of the
flags that we redesign this
summer and gave them out
everyone was very excited.
Everyone was very happy and
then we had a very robust
conversation about the street
art the a Rea sure what is
happening in the state of
Florida, how it is affecting
really the trauma that our
residents feel around this
issue. But the real kind of I
guess common denominator in all
of that conversation
was that they wanted to see our
city leadership come together
and have cohesive conversations
as all of us that represent
them about how we move things
forward. I brought
forward a new business.
Us to take a committee meeting
2 h o u t to have
a cohesive unified
conversation.
There was left little time
for that conversation. And the
day before we were going to
have that committee meeting the
administration went ahead and
rolled out an entire plan
without consulting City Council
without having a conversation.
I heard you say
councilmember just cold that
you did this alone that you you
felt like you had to do this
alone like for whatever reason
you didn't have to
do this alone. You left that
committee meeting before we had
this conversation. I sat there
and asked my colleagues share
talk with us like
have you been having
conversations trying to get
a unified front on this
yet here we are being asked to
look at something that was done
in a silo.
If we don't vote for it, then
it's going to be pitted as
though we don't support our
community and that is unfair
every single person up here
support.
Single part of our community.
We are all about unity. We are
all about recognizing our
history. We have shown
that time and time again.
But this working in
silos is starting to appear as
though it is pitting
Council against administration.
>> Against council members MAY
not help yes today and I am not
going to stand for it any
longer. We have all got to get
on the same page. So if this
passes today. Can you share
with me Rob.
What the mayors response is
going to be because this
is a request of him. And he
obviously is running in his
own direction on this issue.
What's going to happen if this
passes. I don't think I can
answer that directly
councilmember I think the mayor
will have to think about that
what I what I will say is that
you know I
think our intentions together.
>> All in the same place I
think that we all want to show
our values through
art or symbols to the
community. And what the mayors
said is that he wanted to do
some public outreach to look
into that so we've had the word
with Welsh we've done the
online survey which ended
yesterday we had the art
advisory in the public arts
Commission meeting. So we're
gathering that input Siletz
Davis is working on this we're
going to look
kid immediate short-term things
we can do. And then
longer-range things we can do
and then you know we plan to
partner with counsel come back
to Council with with the
information that we gather and
go from there that's
how we're trying to approach.
So with the online survey, I'm
glad that you mentioned that
those that ends today so when I
was at this meeting last week
it happened to be the day that
the survey was ending and no
one knew about it.
Everyone said. There's a survey
you want my input I didn't know
you want to my input so that
evening
I sent an email to
administration and thank you
for honoring that request to
extend that. So it
was extended to today and I was
going to ask tomorrow because
it's on my calendar for
those results.
Because we need to see all of
that information we need to let
the joint committees do their
work we need to
quote.
>> In the news that.
All of these suggestions and we
need to do that in a
collaborative way if this is
about honoring history and this
is about identity and this is
about unity. Then we all need
to be on the scene
page. And I don't want to sit
here any longer and continue to
feel
like were pending one
councilmember against
administration pitting the
administration against all of
Council and pitting our
community against each other
because I speak we're very
close to teetering on you're a
sure starting to cause divide
between all of us
and I'm not going to stand for
it. So I was supposed to leave
about 30 minutes ago for an
appointment that I need to get
to that is a personal
appointment. So I am going to
go ahead and go to excuse
myself from the rest of this
meeting and I want all of you
to know this has nothing to do
with the fact that I support
you I
support every single one of you
and where you stand in your
place in history and in unity
and I will always support you.
But these flags today
are not it. These flags today
get us no closer to that and if
the mayor turns around and says
he's not going to Then where we
at we're just that much more
divided. So I want this process
to play out. I want the survey
results I want you all to
continue to do your work.
>> I know you have to leave,
but since you made some
accusations I just want to set
the record East. We responded
to the
issue that was happening in our
community to get input from the
community
we had a word with Welsh
already scheduled and we had
folks from throughout the
community, including equality
Florida at that meeting.
There is no plan move forward
with the plan
and the Sept. 10th memo that
receive showed
what was happening in the
community,
including art adviser in the
public arts meeting that was
scheduled. We were showing you
that folks were moving in
different parts of the
community. This is what
happened and our plan.
It's a let the process move
forward and hear all the ideas
that are out there. There was
no plan that I was going
forward with other than getting
the input from the entire
community. On how we move
forward in a sustainable way.
A way that can't be preempted.
But the state and county or
City Council input is certainly
a part of that process we want
to hear what city councils
ideas are so the pushback when
you say I'm one with the plan
only plan was to listen to the
community. Listen to the ideas
listen to counsel when that
meeting happened and find the
most sustainable way forward.
So what you said was not true.
We're listening.
And we look forward to building
a sustainable response.
So what we've all gone.
And I appreciate that mayor
perception is reality. And my
reality looked very differently
at that committee meeting so
we're going to leave it where
with that the committee meeting
that we had the h o u t meeting
where there with
the memo was released the day
before that meeting. And there
was no
real conversation at that
meeting.
And I don't I don't want to
argue with you know with a
certain out there and now you
talk
about it well should be okay.
We have already had worked with
Welsh scheduled we had 20 folks
in the
room from around the community
and they put out ideas about
what we could do one of them
was a flag. But there are many
other ideas that we all
accumulating we thought we'd
set up the job for him to get
done community-wide response.
And that's what we're doing so
we're not running for with the
plant we're trying to get all
the ideas and move forward and
again youve got my phone number
we've talked many times
if you want to talk about this.
Give me a call and we'll do
that. But the theatrical
appear. I'm not gonna deal with
it ok you're setting up
division. We're trying to move
forward and make our city
sustainable and respond to this
strategically so if you're
going to call out the
administration with something
that's false.
I'm gonna count.
Fair enough so if this passes
today, what is your intention
with this right. What Council
discuss this because this
is not here to a process.
So Council can discuss that
and then out.
Talk to you that ministration
knows my position on the city
flag, the official flag versus
the pride and Woodson flag that
I've raise above city all
every year and will continue to
do that. But we'll have that
conversation after Council has
your discussion very good.
Thank you Sir. MR. CHAIRMAN
thank you thank you.
>> We're going to go to
councilmember Floyd first
councilmember just go for it
come back to you oh okay.
>> Just one of the mayor
Lightfoot did request a
one-on-one to discuss this and
did not get information back.
From administration so i
realize it's an ongoing issue
would love to have that
one-on-one is what I would say.
>> And then.
>> I have some stuff here
obviously us to want to hear
from everyone else. But my
perspective is been a little
bit different than what's been
presented first want to
thank council member driskell
for bringing forward a creative
idea I understand people's
concerns and the like you know
we would be great if we all get
together but you brought this
tree here analyzing what I was
brought
I'll just say you
know it's a creative idea that
continues to push forward
representation for the
lgbtq and african-american
communities in the city.
And we're in a dark place in
our country and say right now
specifically when marginalized
communities in her attack
constantly
go into detail as to how so
some really horrific things
from the federal government
today on lgbtq rights actually
but we'll watch the news saw
spare us the Payne really
and because of this situation,
I'm ready to support almost
anything. Anyone in city
government puts in front of me
that
makes marginalize communities
feel more welcome the city
almost anything as long as it's
reasonable.
You know it can come
from the mayor can come from
city literally anything yes it
would be ideal if we all got
together and decided how we
move forward best
but what you put in front of me
and what I put forward I hope
we'll get a hearing what you've
heard of for me will get a
hearing. I don't care where it
comes from
I don't care how it gets in
front of me. There's
horrifically evil things going
on in this state in this
country right now and I'm ready
to push back any way that I
can. So
the last thing, I'll say those.
To a couple of the comments
that are made councilmember
speakers.
My perspective is I don't think
that the existence of these
flags. Allies as anyone else's
identity. One we put
forward that a marginalized
community has been attacked
that has been attacked is
important to us we're not
singling them out because
they're more important to us
we're singling them out because
they've been attacked. So
that's that's a perspective
that I bring you this. You
know, obviously we've heard
from our colleagues and it's
been frustrating for everyone
involved. I think our
frustration is not necessarily
with each other our frustration
is with a state that doesn't.
Slipped out of character and
what the
state know what I really
thought the state that doesn't
seem to care about people as
much as he cares about
continuing to
moreover us and make sure that
you know their corporate bosses
can continue to profit off of
our existence and they can rule
with hate and division.
That's that's really what our
frustration is and so.
I hope that you know having
said that we can all come to
conclusions that work together.
But on generally
supportive of the council
member driskell but you know
what based off the
conversation. We've had today I
think people want to see this
happened in a different way.
I understand where they're
coming from, but I appreciate
you bringing this forward thank
you.
Thank you. Councilor
just going to go to
councilmember guests, thank
you. Thank you chair, I
think is a prime example of and
isolated process becoming
siloed conversations on I
certainly appreciate the
passion. I understand. This is
this is what passing get you.
>> And I certainly feel like
this is deja vu because I
certainly understand why one
would want to step up to lend
their voice. Too making sure
that everyone has a voice
to making sure that communities
are erased and communities
aren't silence. I want to be
clear, I don't support fdot ski
racer of our murals.
And I also want to be clear
that I support us finding a
solution
to that however, I know I also
have been having conversations
with artists and
with the same members of the
community that my colleagues
that conversations with then
and I just want to know you
know if we were to move forward
with
this conversation today.
What happens with the
submissions from the community
that will be received
or that have been received with
this will we be able to tie the
2 together would ideas from
other council members be able
to be incorporated
is this a.
Either or type situation or we
can do all of the above.
I mean our position is that
we're going to continuing
reviewing the feedback that we
got we're going to look at it
and see what we think it's
we're going to approach City
Council with some ideas and
concepts that we think can show
our values
through artistic worker symbols
that can last in a legal manner
and be there so that's that's
what we plan to do moving
forward appreciate that MISTER
Curtis and I was thinking you
know next week.
We have this on your own
festival and much of that runs
through district 7 throughout
the warehouse arts district and
that could be an opportunity
for us to get feedback and
maybe
even top the private property
owners.
Who MAY be willing to provide
their
property as an opportunity for
us to. Express our values
through Kansas. So I just want
to you know make sure that
we're cognizant of that that's
happening that we connect the
opportunity again for us to get
more feedback from the
community and then I do have a
question for legal say we do
move forward with
with their be anything aside
from preemption is there
anything that the state could
thinking about those right if
we were to
allocate city resources for
these flags could do is come
back and slaps on the hand for
doing so.
>> Councilor Givens sewing as I
understand that the doge effort
is to call out what it
considers wasteful spending it
doesn't actually have any
regulatory authority. So
they could sit and certainly
identify this and say yes, this
is another example
of wasteful spending but they
could do
that with anything at this
point so.
And I appreciate that
clarification that they can do
this with anything so
I share vice chairs concerns
what repercussions but as you
said attorney Pettigrew they
can do it with just about
anything this is big brother
micro-managing little rather so
it's either we flex our muscles
and we use our voices and we
wait until they tell us no or
will sit here in you know
wallowing
rpd and wish that we did
something I do want to ask the
question to administration is
there anything that prevents us
from raising the Carter g
Woodson flag or the pride flag
year-round aside from just
those designated months.
I I don't.
I deferred to the City
Attorney's Office on that I
can't give you any
legal interpretation on that
I'm not aware of prison.
Right now there's no
restriction in state law on
raising that and if there was
to be one of the future.
It would depend on. What form
it took.
So the PRESIDENT Know.
Appreciate that and again I'm
just looking for solutions said
this not move forward today
again I'm supporting it simply
because I support making sure
that minority vote voices are
silenced or oppressed, but at
the same time I want to make
sure that we have a logical
idea
that won't be preempted.
So thank you chair appreciate
it, thank you councilmember fix
Sanders. Thank you I think.
Right you actually in certain
my question in theory and in
concept. I don't have a problem
with it. But my question was
what was just asked. We can
still fly those flags now
because
still fly the cards he was in
the still.
Pri, pride flag. So I guess
my.
The question is what us.
The rush. If we can still do
these things now in concept we
can still fly these flags now
while we change this cities
Leigh too.
How do they are our time as
designated I guess I'm trying
to understand
if we can still do it right
now. What is the hurry because
I really do I didn't know
about the survey ending today.
I would really love to see what
our constituents have to say
before we chase the official
flay.
And I do know the Americans say
he's not going to do this.
i do understand that and that
will be you know his his
approval to do so I guess I'm
just trying to figure out.
If we can still fly both flags
now what's the issue as far
as hearing, everyone's boys.
Again I have to agree
with councilmember Gavin on
that you know we we want to
make sure that our constituents
know that we support them and I
don't think biased not
approving a new flag design
indicates that we don't I've
seen so many of us make so
many bold and brave moves.
For african-american community
for lgbt community
are we being attacked
absolutely I'm a black woman
standing here that can feel it
each and every day. But I guess
I'm just trying to find the
relevance as to why we are in
such a hurry without getting
constituents back.
I need to be back as to what
they want to see because once
you start setting a precedence
and you all know I'm being on
citing PRESIDENT Says once we
started setting a precedent is
how we move forward from here
on out. So I don't know if.
Councilmember to school you
have
to have this today or would you
be willing to find out with the
constituents are saying instead
of
it just showing up and I pay
cut because
we I had not had any
conversation. Every guy is to
completely switching out the cd
flay I just wanted to make sure
that we're not being prohibited
from flying any flay
that indicates though so that's
where my confusion in Milan
readiness lies because we are
in full support of cp being the
welcoming city of by all means,
I'm just trying to and just
they did. If
we can continue still fly that
with other flags. Well we want
to change the city's flag.
Is this just my question thank
you Jen thank you.
Council member driskell.
And counselor Givens I'm sorry
but I just want to jump I want
to jump in before we go into
around 2. So I I appreciate
your we're grace both of you.
I guess my first question
council member driskell I'll
just go to you all just go
right to it.
I think you I
think we've all heard it right.
>> I think we all want to
move forward somehow.
And and be loud and and.
I'll put it this way. I want to
throw a haymaker I don't want
to throw a jab.
I'm wondering if you would be
open and I can't make the
motion.
If you if we put the sick cow
on the 23th, so we're not
waiting report, I'm just asking
what the back.
That way.
And then the ministrations this
is free to do you think in 2
weeks you
would be prepared to.
By that by to give us result.
Possibly have some
conversations about what those
results are in and be able to
discuss on what you think are
options that could
go forward that have weight.
I think we can certainly put
the results together we could
we could put together some
potential options for City
Council to consider in the next
couple weeks ago.
So.
I want to hear your feedback.
I think I know where you're at
but I think it's important
because listen. Hear hear.
Here's where I'm at.
I'll go right back to what I
just said I want to throw a
haymaker which seems like all
at once like let's come out
with multiple different ways
that we stand up to what has
happened.
Certainly could be a part of
that but
I said this morning said it
before like want to
have all the information in
front of me. Still like I have
some quite like some questions
that I hesitate to even come up
here on the dias because I I
just believe it's a committee
level conversation about like
procurement and things like
that.
And so
I know that's.
Secondary to what we're trying
to do but still in my opinion
important question. I want to
give you the opportunity to
respond.
>> And thanks to all you on.
We have weighed in on this.
It is you always take a chance
when you bring something
straight to Council. All right.
You guys take a chance when
you're going to do something
bold. And that's what this is.
These flags are different.
The pride flag that's raised
that
in JUNE. They Woodson flag
that's raised for Black History
Month. In FEBRUARY.
I wanted these to be.
Evergreen all encompassing
showing
that I mean this isn't even
actually a pride flag.
It was created. Originally by
Johnny and marketing to give
out to everyone has a variation
on that.
And I think every single person
can see themselves in this
flat.
That's what art does to you.
>> So it's not about replacing
our official city flag. It's
about having variations on that
flag.
In an official way because look
we also have a grand Prix
flank.
Race flag I don't know what's
going to happen with that now.
We have tried and we have like
the treatment, this makes him
special this this takes it to
the next level where it's not
just about one group of people.
These flags have been have been
created to be about everybody
to be about everyone in our
city. And
so that is that is why. I would
like to
have these used instead that
certain times of the year at
City facilities.
But the
city seal mean something and it
means something to.
The folks who have seen this it
really just takes it a step
further. It's a bolder step and
that's what this moment calls
for we're at a critical time
right now.
I understand that we want the
other information and have
committee
meetings and bureaucracy and
and focus groups and surveys.
But the people I've been
talking to ever since
this melting started happening.
>> They want something
something right now. We're not
giving them anything.
So when I go to
an administrator and say hey
I've got this idea. This is
what we can
do it I saw it happen in MAY.
I thought about it when Johnny
the flags in JUNE.
>> And it was like oh wow we
there's a process so rather
than having this get caught in
the Bermuda Triangle of
bureaucracy.
I decided to
putin idea together on my own
and no one can tell me that no
other council members that
there and come up with
something on their own before.
It's not working in a silo is
being an independent thinker
and it's being a representative
for our city.
We can choose to be a city
Council members is back and it
gets fed things and makes
decisions on them. But none of
us does that.
Some other city can do that
we do things here. We come up
with ideas.
This is one.
I couldn't take the chance on
having it sent to come in I
couldn't even take that chance,
I'm putting it on
the agenda originally. I
purposely waited to get on ads
and believes that they would
only be out there for a week
because guess what happened
when I believe is councilmember
Floyd a few years ago who
brought a resolution forward.
Lots of feedback from the
community lots of support for
it.
Just before we had the meeting
to vote on it. We received.
I'm not so nice letter. From
the state level.
Losing funding if we passed
that particular resolution that
day.
When that happens you don't
forget it. When you work on
something like this.
You have that in mind you have
to be very strategic about it.
And so I do apologize that I
was not able to give.
A two-week notice to ask for
something to be put on
committee and put on a referral
listen maybe one day. Get a
discussion on it. I
knew what I wanted to do.
I put it together he's my own
money to pay the artist to
create these images for you all
to look at and hopefully to
support and approve.
I have a feeling of the mayor
came through that door right
now. I think he
might say that he likes these.
I'm willing to take that
chance.
Whoever thought this would come
from St. Right girl. You know.
This is for me.
Like a sense of pride that I
get from this is from
expressing myself as an ally.
But even greater than
that, I'm expressing myself as
a resident, and the leader
of St. Petersburg because
that's what this is about.
These slides are for everyone.
That's why they have the names
that they have it reflect who
we are.
The people told me that they've
been one person in particular
said the people have been so
hungry for something and
this answers to that. I know
that it doesn't fix everything.
Certainly not.
But I have a feeling.
That no matter what else we
come up with no matter what
else the administration comes
up with in how we work
together.
These will fit in just fine.
I'm pretty sure.
I want I want these.
A part of our city.
And willing to answer any
questions any one Hannah's.
If you just tell me what it
will take to get you into this
car today. And I will move
approval.
Thank you chair.
Just one of them raise a
morsell make a statement.
Based on.
Comments have been made if we
open Pandora's box on this o
where does though
where is the line drawn where
do we
stop requests for flags, I mean
if.
Christian group came to me and
said hey we want to put the
Christian flag on the same
piece seal can we do that
neo-nazis asked for that if
Matt is one of
the coming year and do that
where do we draw the line.
So again this is a great
concept, but I just want to be
clear that we could be opening
Pandora's box.
>> Thank you and I'm I'm in the
same. Councilmember Jessica
said wherever we whatever
we come up with the flags will
fitting so that's where I am
let us find
out where that is in that them
feeding and what I don't want
to happen is for this not to
pay is. Today
and then
there's no further conversation
because I do want to see
additional conversation I do
want to see us make this strong
bold move but I do want to know
that our constituents
have to say, so I agree with
chair go to sequester now make
that motion if you need to read
that now make it if that needs
to happen, but. I just don't
want to see it not.
Thank you chair, thank you
council members. Thank you
and first
if someone.
Had some type of flag
that they would. So there's a
lot of what about They happens
when you bring forward
something like this.
Any person.
Could contact a City Council
member of the same process.
Any person kid ask a City
Council member. Get them on
board.
And and propose and have the
City Council member propose it
that can happen.
It doesn't stop me from
putting for
what I believe in what I would
like to have. But there is no.
There's no rule against someone
asking the City Council member
to sponsor a different kind of
flag and having everyone vote
on it. So it's all the same.
No matter what.
The flag looks like
councilmember fig Sanders
question about. Or
request about
waiting. The reason that I have
as I mentioned before.
2 reasons number one every
our that this is in public.
When there is the opportunity.
And you know even if we didn't
pass I mean since this became
public. It has been at risk.
So that could it could
something could happen any
time. This is one where even if
we only had it for.
You know a week a year,
whatever and telecom the bill
gets filed again in Tallahassee
we will have had it.
But I think it was dunk
councilmember fig Sanders who
said not too long ago in a city
Council meeting.
I will not walk in fear.
I would not live in fear is
something like that and I.
I think of of and the video
that was made by James comey
and when he was just recently
indicted.
Stood strong talked about how
his family is going to say stay
strong and he said we will not
live at 9 on we will not live
on our knees.
And that really that really hit
me and I thought
about what councilmember fig
Sanders has had said before.
And so I wanted to.
Continue with this and be
strong.
I can't control what the state
does I can't you know control
what
happens what happens next with
this someone can decide that
I'll be removed from office
tomorrow just for bringing this
forward.
I'm not afraid
of this because I believe in
it.
i would love to talk about this
in committee along with all of
these other things.
But it does mean that
there's a chance that it too is
going to be a race sooner than
later.
Damn shame.
What's great to hear
my colleagues in all it very
thoughtful conversation.
A lot of issues brought up.
I do want to say in terms of
having a committee meeting as
was offered.
A couple of weeks at all think
changes anything because the
reality is I mean spectrum.
Bay news 9 contacted the
governor's.
Be quick.
The had a quote one of the
articles, it's not like.
This is not already getting
to the people who would b MAY
be motivated to erase it.
So.
I understand those concerns.
But at this point it's there.
Already
and.
Having a committee meeting to
have a thoughtful conversation
about what the options are I
think doesn't change that back.
I thought that was a good
compromise. That's all I one
thing thank you.
I mean it is a risk either way.
And it sounds
like the beak there are some
wood mind. A greater
level of comfort in
having a couple of weeks too.
We speak with the community as
councilmember fig Sanders said
and. Maybe
give everyone more time to
digest this.
I think we can get to a good
place on it.
>> And so I will withdraw my
motion. And I will move to have
of this item
referred to a committee of the
whole.
To take place on Oct. 23th,
2025 already spoken to Jamie so
thankful here, thanks for
thankful for your willingness
to do that and it'll be on the
agenda on 23th of already make
sure second.
>> Okay we have a motion and
second councilmember Driscoll I
just want to thank you one more
time for your willingness to
have the conversation this is
exactly what I have I have made
this comment multiple times.
So thank you. And I want
to thank my colleagues for
their comments.
We have g 3 refer to a cow
seeing is no other council
members wishing to speak clerk
could you please over the
machine for boating council
members please enter your
votes, seeing is all present
council members a vote a clerk
please talent announce the
vote.
>> In your view then like a
soggy end. Please re-enter your
votes councilmembers
sitting in. He is a present
council members a vote a clerk
please timing out the vote.
Sure the motion to approve
agenda item g 3 passes 6, 2,
One with councilmember Harding
Bono and councilmember Gabbert
being absent from school
Sanders Floyd Curtis it gives
you your hand was voting.
Yes, okay, thank you.
>> We'll go to open for a
speakers on open for him do not
have. Okay councilmembers
announcements.
If you're thinking about it by
share. Now I will.
>> Any any and the nonverbal.
>> And that's something I mean
a number I was real sensitive
to nonverbal communication
after our student and
that is Sat. Afternoon.
Now number of all communication
for me thank you for or for
what this point thank you very
much. Well listen just quickly
just wanted to thank all of you
for the presentations and
proclamations this morning or
this afternoon and then again
just wanted to. Just reiterate
my thankfulness for my
colleagues in the
administration both for your
willingness to make some
compromise some good
compromise. I think today and
then personally councilmember
fix Sanders go ahead. That was
non-verbal councilmember in
don't forget you have put your
shirt on and take a picture and
send the Southeast that we can
share those okay we can do a
self we can do selfie time.
And then
just quickly again just I just
wanted to thank you for all the
support with the girl this and
going t family just one last
time being today what it is so.
>> If there's nothing else for