[0:00]

[2:31] The city commission of ST Pete Beach together.

[2:34] It is 6 o'clock PM on August 25, 2026.

[2:39] Will you please join us and rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

[2:43] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[2:47] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[2:50] One nation under God, indivisible,

[2:53] with liberty and justice for all.

[2:55] Strong city clerk, will you please call.

[3:00] Roll call.

[3:01] Commissioner Marriott here.

[3:03] Vice mayor Robinson here.

[3:04] Commissioner Causey here.

[3:06] Commissioner Maldonado here.

[3:07] Mayor Tate here.

[3:08] We have a quorum.

[3:10] Thank you.

[3:11] Are there any proposed changes to the agenda.

[3:15] I have some questions on consent items.

[3:17] OK just for clarification purposes, items B and C.

[3:26] And then a.

[3:29]

[3:31] Correction for j letter correction on J. OK thank you.

[3:44] To add an item to discussions, sir.

[3:48] Mothballs on the beach.

[3:50]

[3:58] Do we have a motion to approve the agenda, as amended.

[4:08] I'll move to approve the agenda, as amended.

[4:11] Second commissioner Marriott.

[4:14] Yes, Vice Mayor Robertson.

[4:16] Yes, Commissioner.

[4:17] Yes commissioner.

[4:18] Maldonado yes.

[4:20] Mayor Tate.

[4:20] Yes The motion carries.

[4:24] OK thank you very much.

[4:26] Moving on to our presentations.

[4:29] First presentation micro-transit services.

[4:32] Consideration of contract amount or discontinuation.

[4:36]

[4:43] Good evening.

[4:44] Mayor commission.

[4:45] Mandy Edmonds, resident services director, for the record.

[4:49] And we'll be going through the presentation tonight.

[4:52] For transit services.

[4:54]

[5:00] All right.

[5:00] So tonight we're looking for commission

[5:02] direction on transit services.

[5:05] The presentation covers two related topics.

[5:08] First, the city's micro-transit procurement, where things stand

[5:12] and the direction we need from the Commission

[5:14] on the program's future.

[5:16] Second star service and funding update for FY 27,

[5:20] including ridership data, service options,

[5:23] and the direction we are requesting

[5:24] on the scope of its service in ST Pete Beach.

[5:27] We'll move through four parts tonight.

[5:29] The micro-transit procurement process,

[5:31] the micro-transit direction request,

[5:34] and the psta service and funding update

[5:37] in the psta direction request.

[5:39] Brad Miller is here.

[5:40] He is the CEO for psta.

[5:44] And then the assistant city manager, Adam Poirier.

[5:47] And I will be happy to take any questions at the end.

[5:49]

[5:52] So let's start with where the micro-transit procurement stands

[5:55] today.

[5:57] The city issued a competitive solicitation,

[5:59] a request for proposals for micro-transit services 5 vendors

[6:03] submitted proposals by the deadline,

[6:05] including the vendor currently under contract with the city.

[6:09] Bids ranged widely from anywhere up

[6:11] to approximately 225,000 to over 1 million plus on the high end.

[6:18] To put some names to those numbers,

[6:20] we did have our current service provider

[6:24] bid mid-range and submitted under the current service model.

[6:30] The bid opening is complete, but the full procurement

[6:33] process has not been completed.

[6:35] The proposals still need to be vetted

[6:36] by city's internal evaluation committee

[6:39] before staff can bring forward a vendor recommendation.

[6:42] Tonight's request is not for a vendor selection.

[6:44] It's for direction on the program

[6:46] itself, which I'll get to in a moment.

[6:49] One more note before we move on.

[6:51] Microtransit is not the city's only public transportation

[6:54] option.

[6:55] Psta also provides service here in ST. Pete Beach,

[6:58] utilizing the Suncoast beach trolley, sunrunner and psta

[7:02] access, and we'll walk through that in more detail

[7:04] later in the presentation.

[7:06]

[7:10] So staff is requesting commission

[7:12] direction on the future of microtransit program itself.

[7:15] Two options are presented for consideration.

[7:18] Option one is to retain the service.

[7:20] Under this option, the commission

[7:22] would direct staff to continue microtransit service

[7:25] and establish a not to exceed dollar amount for the contract.

[7:29] Service to residents continues uninterrupted.

[7:31] The commission sets a firm budget ceiling,

[7:34] and staff proceeds to negotiate final contract terms

[7:36] within that cap, with vendor selection and pricing finalized

[7:40] administratively once the valuation

[7:42] committee completes its review.

[7:45] Option 2 is to discontinue the service.

[7:48] Under this option, the commission

[7:49] would direct staff to remove microtransit from cities

[7:53] program offerings completely.

[7:55] This eliminates the ongoing budget exposure for the service,

[7:58] but residents may lose access to transit options.

[8:02] Staff would begin the wind down and the transition

[8:04] of the program.

[8:06] The current contract would simply be closed out

[8:08] and no new procurement would be needed.

[8:11] Staff respectfully requests that commission select a direction

[8:14] so we can proceed accordingly.

[8:17] Moving into psta.

[8:19] So the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and the cities funding

[8:23] support for its services for FY 27.

[8:27] Psta is proposing a city subsidy of $242,000, $242,000.

[8:35] Yes, that's a change from 26.

[8:38] The prior subsidy funded for the Suncoast beach trolley

[8:41] psta access and route 90.

[8:44] Psta is proposing to eliminate route 90 for FY 27,

[8:48] so the proposed 242,000 would fund only the trolley

[8:52] and psta access going forward.

[8:55] So now a quick ridership snapshot

[8:58] on this slide covering the first 10 months of this fiscal year.

[9:03] All figures are up more than 20% compared to last year.

[9:07] That's largely tied to Hurricane related service restoration.

[9:11] So keep that context in mind as we

[9:12] look at the additional numbers on the sunrunner

[9:17] the northbound service into ST Pete.

[9:19] Boardings or ST Pete Beach boarding or no Saint Petersburg

[9:22] boardings at the three southernmost

[9:24] stops totaled roughly 80,000, 57,000, and 70,000.

[9:28] I want to flag that one thing clearly here sunrunner

[9:31] is shown for visibility purposes only.

[9:33] The city does not currently supplement this service

[9:35] financially on the Suncoast beach trolley, which is

[9:39] the service the city does fund.

[9:41] The ST Pete Beach segment saw about 70,000

[9:43] boardings over the same period.

[9:45] Again up about 11% roughly 15% of the total trolley ridership.

[9:51] Boards within ST Pete Beach at the South end of the line.

[9:54] One important operational detail the trolley currently

[9:57] terminates at 75th Avenue.

[10:00] That's relevant context as we move into the next slide

[10:02] on service options.

[10:04]

[10:10] To access the paratransit service.

[10:13] The trip count data specific to ST Pete Beach for FY25 and 26

[10:17] is still pending, and will be available at a later date.

[10:21] There is an important contingency to flag, however,

[10:23] if the city were to discontinue trolley support,

[10:26] psta access pickups in ST Pete Beach would be limited to areas

[10:30] North of 90th Avenue from Egan park North

[10:33] to Treasure Island border.

[10:35] That would be a meaningful service reduction for residents

[10:37] South of that line.

[10:39] We are still vetting how sunrunner access impacts

[10:42] paratransit service with psta.

[10:46] Given the possibility that microtransit service

[10:48] could be reduced or eliminated.

[10:50] Psta is offering the ST. Pete Beach resident upass

[10:53] as a potential alternative.

[10:55] This would provide up to 200 city branded

[10:58] flamingo fare cards, offering free rides

[11:00] on all psta bus service.

[11:02] The trolley and the sun runner for verified

[11:05] ST Pete Beach residents.

[11:06] It excludes psta access.

[11:09] The estimated cost is $4,000 in year one,

[11:12] adjusting afterward based on usage plus an annual

[11:16] inflationary increase.

[11:18] Staff would still need to gather more

[11:20] additional information from psta before moving

[11:22] forward with this option.

[11:25] On extending the trolley, staff asked psta for the cost

[11:28] to extend service South to Don césar.

[11:31] Psta provided the cost to extend to County Beach County park,

[11:36] estimated at about 175,000 to 200,000,

[11:41] in additional annual subsidy, assuming that the cost is based

[11:45] on distance extending further South

[11:47] specifically to the Don, Cesar would

[11:49] likely double that estimate.

[11:52] Staff respectfully requests that commission review this funding.

[11:56] Ridership and service information

[11:58] and decide on the future scope of psta service

[12:00] in ST Pete Beach.

[12:03] So that brings us to the direction we're requesting

[12:06] from commission at psta.

[12:08] Two questions.

[12:10] First, does the commission wish to continue funding

[12:13] psta service, the Suncoast beach trolley and psta

[12:16] access for ST Pete Beach.

[12:18] Second, if yes, at what service level.

[12:21] That includes the proposed 240,000 base subsidy,

[12:25] and whether the commission would like to add elements such

[12:27] as resident upass or the trolley extension to County beach park.

[12:31] Staff and psta respectfully request the Commission's

[12:35] directions on both the micro transit and psta star

[12:38] items presented tonight and we are

[12:39] happy to take questions Mr. Maldonado,

[12:52] so normally we see a staff recommendation.

[12:56] Do we have a staff recommendation.

[12:59] We do not have a staff recommendation at this time.

[13:02] We are still going through the procurement process

[13:06] as far as microtransit is concerned.

[13:09] So at this point, we do not have recommendation.

[13:11] We're just looking for guidance to whether move

[13:14] forward in the procurement process

[13:16] or to eliminate the service.

[13:17] Mandy thank you.

[13:18] And you said you pass would be free.

[13:21] You mean it would be no cost to residents.

[13:24] It's not free.

[13:24] We would be paying for it.

[13:25] Still, it would be that $4,000 charge as we know it right now.

[13:28] We're still gathering information

[13:30] from psta on what exactly that program would look like.

[13:33] Thank you.

[13:34] You're welcome.

[13:35]

[13:38] Commissioner Causey.

[13:40] I just talk to sta for a moment here.

[13:46] So can we clarify in my mind what

[13:51] route 90 is the PSC route 90.

[13:55] I'm going to defer to our assistant city manager

[13:58] on some of the details for the PSC questions.

[14:01] So perhaps here too, if I speak wrong.

[14:04] But route 90 was originally from 34th

[14:07] Street South down the Bay way and then into ST Pete Beach.

[14:11] So it was a relatively small route that had been recommended

[14:15] for removal by the psta board.

[14:17] So I don't know if they've officially voted on removal

[14:19] of that, but they were.

[14:21] Where's the terminal ending of route 90 inches ST Pete Beach,

[14:26] or on that route that we're going to cut.

[14:28] I believe the County park.

[14:29] Is that correct, Brian.

[14:31] Yeah County Park.

[14:32] And then in general, I had a general comment.

[14:38] I living right there and past the place of County Park

[14:44] all the time.

[14:45] And it's very common to see two sunrunners parked

[14:49] there for a period of time.

[14:53] And occasionally there will be a third sunrunner that

[14:56] can't fit into the County park.

[14:58] And it's parked on Gulf Boulevard.

[15:00] So that's blocking the bike lane and one

[15:03] of the lanes on Gulf Boulevard.

[15:05] While they're waiting for one of the other two to leave.

[15:08] So I guess my general question would be, is there a waiting

[15:13] time that they have programmed into the route at the County

[15:17] park.

[15:18] Because our County Parks are not very large,

[15:21] and it seems like it's not a great place to stop and wait.

[15:26] So I would like to understand that more.

[15:29] And also, maybe there would never be two of them

[15:34] parked there at the same time.

[15:36] I don't have an answer.

[15:38] Yeah, well, I'm just posing some questions since Brad's here,

[15:41] and I think that's something I would like

[15:44] to definitely get the answer.

[15:46] Commissioner Causey, please speak into your microphone.

[15:50] This microphone.

[15:53] Good evening, Brad Miller.

[15:55] I'm the CEO of psta.

[15:57] Thank you for having me.

[15:58] That was the easy question.

[16:00] Yeah OK.

[16:01] Yeah so we're supposed to have the maximum of two sunrunners

[16:07] there.

[16:07] Yes there is a scheduled recovery

[16:11] time, which is what we call it.

[16:13] They get about 10 minutes there at the end

[16:16] of the line of the County beach park

[16:17] before they go around and go back to ST Petersburg.

[16:20] So I do know that yeah, there are sometimes two.

[16:25] If you've seen 3, that's not supposed to happen.

[16:27] The goal, the whole system is supposed to operate,

[16:30] so they all stay evenly spaced.

[16:33] I will definitely take that back.

[16:35] Make sure that there shouldn't be a time

[16:39] when you haven't seen three.

[16:41] That's why probably it was parked outside.

[16:43] Because you're right.

[16:44] There's not enough space for three buses to be there.

[16:47] Yeah, yeah.

[16:48] I understand how schedules can get off on something like that,

[16:53] but it does that have to be the end of the route.

[16:57] Like, is there a way that we could make the service to ST

[17:01] Pete Beach, stop there and then leave so that there's not a bus

[17:06] just parked at that place.

[17:09] And that would probably stop that whole problem.

[17:13] Yeah well, essentially the sunrunner just

[17:15] goes back and forth and a loop essentially from downtown

[17:20] ST Petersburg to the beach.

[17:22] And so the County beach park and then

[17:24] there's another layover at the other end in ST Petersburg.

[17:28] So there's only two stops on that whole route.

[17:32] There's only two spots on the route

[17:34] where they do have recovery time.

[17:38] Oh recovery time.

[17:39] So we couldn't change the recovery

[17:42] time to a different spot.

[17:44] I would be happy.

[17:45] We can look into reducing the amount of time at the beach

[17:49] or making it less often that you have more than one bus there.

[17:55] Yeah, I think that would be a key improvement.

[17:59] So I guess that answers that question.

[18:03] And then that's it for me for now.

[18:05] Then I've got a few more, but I'm

[18:08] going to Commissioner Robinson.

[18:09] I have a question.

[18:11] What was the ridership or what is

[18:13] the ridership for the route 90.

[18:17] The route 90.

[18:18] Oh, it's relatively low.

[18:21] Essentially that route has been there a lot longer.

[18:26] And it has come from ST Petersburg,

[18:29] going South past the Don Cesar and then up and it.

[18:33] Mostly it just operates very few trips in the morning

[18:35] and in the afternoon for work trips,

[18:37] mostly people that are working at the hotels,

[18:39] and most of the riders have transferred

[18:42] to using the sunrunner, which comes much more frequently.

[18:45] What's to the trade winds.

[18:47] What is the ridership, though, on that.

[18:50] I'd have to look up exactly what the ridership was on it.

[18:54] Just trying to compare that to what the trolley is.

[18:58] So it's much, much less it's much,

[19:01] much less than is it 10,000.

[19:03] Is it 40,000.

[19:05] I mean, much less is a very nebulous term.

[19:09] So I'm just trying to get a handle on what

[19:11] much less it would be 0.

[19:14] It's not 0, but it's very low.

[19:18] It's a couple.

[19:19] It's maybe less than 1,000 a month.

[19:22] And the trolley is trolley is more like 60,000 a month.

[19:27] So for June, the route 90 was 785.

[19:31] OK thank you riders.

[19:33] Yeah So you're cutting that just due to cost and ridership.

[19:43] Yes OK.

[19:44] Thank you.

[19:45]

[19:50] So sorry.

[19:51] Just to make sure I level set my head.

[19:52] So route 90, the decision to discontinue that

[19:55] is effectively done right.

[19:56] You're not asking our opinion on that.

[19:58] If I'm understanding you correctly,

[19:59] that's a decision that's been made.

[20:00] Route 90 will ceasefire.

[20:02] Officially the decision has not been made by the PSA board.

[20:05] That's going to be made tomorrow.

[20:06] Whether or not to go with staff recommendation

[20:09] to eliminate that route.

[20:12] The financial information that was presented to you on $242,000

[20:20] being the operating cost for in ST Pete Beach

[20:23] of the transit services for the trolley

[20:25] and the ski access service.

[20:27] For fiscal year 27 does not include the 90.

[20:31] Assumes that the PSA board will vote

[20:34] tomorrow to not operate the 90.

[20:36] OK last year's number of 220 did include the 90.

[20:42] So I'm sorry, just because I'm trying to retain

[20:45] the numbers in my head.

[20:46] So last year, we paid 220 with route 90.

[20:49] With route 90.

[20:50] OK Take some notes here so I can keep this straight in my head.

[20:54] So in 2026, we paid $220,000.

[20:59] Including route 90.

[21:00] Correct OK.

[21:03] And presumably next year, would the baked in number for 2027

[21:08] assumes that 90 is not going to be there.

[21:10] Correct right.

[21:11] And the 2027 number is 242 OK.

[21:19] All right, so I have to just be up front with you.

[21:26] I'm hearing 42,000 more for a drop off of 90, right.

[21:31] 220 was the cost last year.

[21:33] Did I hear that right.

[21:35] 220 for last year and includes 90

[21:37] includes route 90 including route 90,

[21:40] including the portion of route 90 that's in ST Pete Beach.

[21:45] 26th year we're in now.

[21:47] Yes and then 242 for fiscal year 2027.

[21:52] Excludes route 90.

[21:54] Excludes route 90.

[21:56] Yes OK.

[21:57] So I'm just making sure I hear it again.

[22:00] More money.

[22:01] Route 90.

[22:02] Gone am, I am, I am, I mistaken on that.

[22:05] You are.

[22:05] You are correct on that OK.

[22:10] Assuming route 90 goes away, what does that leave

[22:13] us with psta buses in the city.

[22:17] That will remain, I think.

[22:18] I think we've still got the trolley

[22:20] and then we've got another one that comes on the North side

[22:22] or what remains.

[22:23] Let me just ask you that current bus service

[22:26] in ST Pete Beach today versus what

[22:29] might change if root 90 is eliminated.

[22:33] Which route does that leave us.

[22:35] OK, so right now you have the Suncoast beach trolley,

[22:38] which comes down Gulf Boulevard all the way from Clearwater,

[22:40] down Gulf Boulevard, all the way down into through

[22:44] Treasure Island and then into ST Pete Beach

[22:46] and ends at 75th and Gulf.

[22:49] And we've provided the ridership on that in ST beach.

[22:54] We number 2 is the sun runner that comes from ST Petersburg,

[22:58] on the sun runner that goes to the County beach park.

[23:01] And then third, today is the route

[23:04] 90, a very limited service just in the morning

[23:07] and in the afternoon that operates

[23:09] through the County beach park, but comes

[23:11] down through the bayway.

[23:13] In addition to that, PSC access service

[23:17] paratransit services for about 3,800 people this year.

[23:23] Through June this fiscal year so far.

[23:27] That's also provided today.

[23:30] Next fiscal year for 242,000 is the Suncoast beach trolley down

[23:36] Gulf Boulevard, ST Pete Beach, 75th and Gulf sun runner up,

[23:42] and the PSC access services.

[23:46] OK, sun runner to County beach.

[23:51] So I'm drawing a map in my head.

[23:53] I wish I a map that would tell me, show me the routes, right.

[23:55] So I got a trolley coming down from Clearwater

[23:57] to 75th in Gulf sun runner.

[24:00] I know it ends at County beach.

[24:01] Where does it come through.

[24:02] Does it come across 75th?

[24:04] I assume it comes down to County beach.

[24:06] It goes up Gulf Boulevard, turns on 75th and goes

[24:09] to downtown ST Petersburg.

[24:11] OK And just back and forth.

[24:12] So between County park and up 75th.

[24:16] And then heretofore we've got a route

[24:19] 90, which comes across the Bay way

[24:21] and back up to the same County beach.

[24:23] That may go away pending decisions going soon.

[24:27] And then the 220, the 220,000 that we paid

[24:32] in 2026 that included route 90.

[24:34] Did that also include the psta access.

[24:38] I guess the handicap piece was that baked into the 220

[24:41] or was that an additional charge on top of the 220 for 2026?

[24:46] Well, that was included in the 220.

[24:48] It is included.

[24:49] Yes OK.

[24:52] All right.

[24:58] I'm just.

[25:01] Again, I'm kind of mentally just drawing this out.

[25:04] So we've got most of our theoretically route

[25:07] 90 goes away.

[25:08] We've got most of our island covered North of County park,

[25:11] but everything South is now unserved from sda's perspective.

[25:15] Effective if I just mentally math or mentally map that out.

[25:19] Well, let me ask, were there any stops to the South.

[25:23] It was or was it really being served.

[25:26] I guess I would say.

[25:28] I mean, I was mentioning it's about a 700

[25:31] and some total riders per month, pretty low ridership.

[25:35] The other stuff that people have are workers at the dances

[25:40] are use that some workers would no longer have bus service.

[25:47] Well was it stopping there.

[25:48] It just goes to the County park.

[25:50] And then they were making their way from there to the well.

[25:53] It comes down from down 34th Street in ST Petersburg,

[25:57] then across the bayway past Eckerd college there and then

[26:01] to the Don says are people would get off there

[26:03] and then it would go up Gulf Boulevard to end

[26:05] at the County beach park.

[26:06] So it's really the 34th Street people that are

[26:09] not being served at this point.

[26:12] But what we believe and what we already that some people are

[26:16] already doing what we believe is an alternative

[26:18] for those same workers would be that they can take.

[26:21] We have a good service on Route 34

[26:24] in ST Petersburg up to the sunrunner,

[26:27] and then they can come over here on the sunrunner,

[26:29] down to the County beach park, South to North to South.

[26:32] The only stop that would not be served anymore

[26:34] would be at the Don Cesar.

[26:37] OK OK.

[26:38] I'll pause for a moment Mr. Marriott, please.

[26:42] Yeah thank you.

[26:43] Thanks, Brad.

[26:44] I did have a question.

[26:46] I wanted to clarify a couple of things

[26:47] about the psta access program.

[26:50] And so the ACCESS program is it's both dedicated

[26:57] or shared ride handicap vans.

[27:00] Is that correct for people in wheelchairs

[27:02] and that sort of thing.

[27:03] And also essentially like subsidized Uber rides

[27:07] for people who can't get to the bus stop

[27:09] or can't have a disability that prevents them from being

[27:12] able to get to a bus stop.

[27:13] Is that the or ride the bus independently.

[27:16] Do I have that.

[27:17] Basically all of the PSA access services

[27:19] for people with disabilities, people who have a disability,

[27:23] they qualify for both programs, either the regular van service

[27:29] or what we call mobility on demand, which basically

[27:32] means same day or real time requests using

[27:38] an Uber or Lyft or a taxi.

[27:40] And people have to apply to the PSA,

[27:44] you guys have a program where they apply, they get verified,

[27:46] they get approved, and then they can use that program.

[27:49] And is that program and I may have this incorrect

[27:54] is that are people only eligible for that program

[27:58] if they're a certain x number of miles away from a bus stop

[28:02] or that it would be for all of ST Pete Beach

[28:06] if we pay for the service, it's for anyone in ST. Pete Beach,

[28:09] whether there's someone in pass-a-grille.

[28:12] It doesn't matter if there's not a bus stop close to there.

[28:15] They still have access to that program.

[28:17] That is our current policy.

[28:19] Is anywhere.

[28:21] OK anywhere.

[28:22] OK perfect.

[28:22] Thank you.

[28:24] And then I think a minute ago, you said.

[28:26] I thought you said a number of riders

[28:30] from ST Pete Beach who participate

[28:32] in the ACCESS program.

[28:35] Or was I misunderstanding a number.

[28:38] I looked it up.

[28:42] So far this fiscal year through June 30,

[28:45] from October 1 to June 30 was 3,800 trips

[28:50] starting in ST Pete Beach.

[28:51] And about the same number returning to ST Pete Beach.

[28:57] So 3809 months, 3801 way trips out

[29:01] of ST Pete Beach on the x-axis and the mobility on demand

[29:05] combined.

[29:07] Got it.

[29:07] Thank you.

[29:08] I'm sorry.

[29:09] The fiscal year.

[29:10] So October 1.

[29:11] Through you said the end of July.

[29:12] June 30.

[29:14] Nine months.

[29:16] And can you clarify where the.

[29:18] If they started in ST. Pete Beach,

[29:21] what are the limits of where they're

[29:23] headed to under that program.

[29:25] I mean, how is what is their destination.

[29:30] Well, the service goes anywhere in Pinellas County.

[29:33] So anywhere in Pinellas County.

[29:35] A lot of medical trips and other key services.

[29:40] Again, they're all people with disabilities.

[29:43] Mostly the average age is pretty old

[29:47] and they are going everywhere.

[29:50] Yeah, it's grocery stores, shopping,

[29:52] Doctor appointments, whatever.

[29:54] Yeah Thank you on that.

[29:59] I missed that.

[29:59] What was the cost on that for just

[30:02] the psta access and mobility on demand

[30:06] is our separate cost for those.

[30:08] We haven't developed a cost of just that.

[30:13] We're happy to provide that if you're interested in that.

[30:16] Yeah, I'd be interested in that.

[30:19] Yeah Mr. Maldonado.

[30:24] Yeah I can see you working over there.

[30:26] Yeah Brad.

[30:28] So, is any of that subsidized.

[30:30] I know that it's not covered through our ad

[30:33] valorem or anything like that.

[30:34] Tourism development tax.

[30:36] City County projects that we're not aware of with the access.

[30:41] No Well, it's covered by the STA budget.

[30:45] The ad valorem covers that.

[30:49] Yeah but the city of ST Pete Beach,

[30:51] it's only the funding that you provide to us that covers it.

[30:57] It's included in the 220 for this year and 242 for next year.

[31:01] And then rider fares, of course, are on top of that.

[31:04] Like we pay a chunk, but the writers are still paying a fair.

[31:08] The customers on PSA access pay $4.50 per ride for that service.

[31:17] And the bus service cost $2.25 per ride.

[31:22] OK, I'll come back to it.

[31:23] Thank you.

[31:24]

[31:38] That's what I thought I was going to wait for.

[31:40] He was reaching for his light.

[31:41] Oh, OK, I'll do it.

[31:43] I'll go ahead and ask a question then.

[31:45] So thank you.

[31:46] I appreciate it.

[31:48] So just trying to get an idea of cost per item.

[31:51] Seeing that.

[31:52] So the $7,000 number we were using is that what is

[31:58] the timeline on the $7,000 for the Suncoast

[32:01] trolley number that we were talking

[32:03] about ridership was that per.

[32:05]

[32:08] 77 70,000 was the number 70,000.

[32:13] OK yeah 70,000.

[32:14] That's right.

[32:15] And that is for per.

[32:18] Is that what timeline was that number for 10 125 to 731.

[32:24] So that's currently through June.

[32:26] OK July on the sunrunner there was for 10 months that

[32:31] included the month of July.

[32:33] The access numbers I only had through June.

[32:38] So 7 $7,000 a month or 70,000 for 10 months.

[32:43] That is the number of boardings on the sunrunner at the County

[32:47] beach park on the sunrunner.

[32:50] No, the number we're looking at is the 70,000 for the trolley.

[32:54] Yes, but still the number of boardings.

[32:56] The number of boardings in ST Pete Beach.

[32:58] Correct not total ridership of the entire trolley system.

[33:02] Correct That is, the number of boardings in ST Pete Beach

[33:05] of the Suncoast beach trolley.

[33:07] OK, that's what I was thinking 10 months.

[33:09] Yeah, over 10 months.

[33:11] Yeah, but it's only actually it's only 15% of that number,

[33:15] as I understood, stood the way it was stated.

[33:18] No, 15.

[33:19] That number is 15% of the total trolley ridership.

[33:23] All right of the total trolley ridership,

[33:26] all the way up to Clearwater, about 15%

[33:29] of the people that ride that all the whole trolley

[33:32] system board in ST Pete Beach.

[33:36] OK 70,000.

[33:37] Now Yeah OK.

[33:38] That makes sense to me now.

[33:40] All right.

[33:43]

[33:46] Have you all ever.

[33:49] Could you tell us numbers that you guys

[33:51] calculate on cost per ride for the sunrunner

[33:55] and the Suncoast trolley.

[33:58] Yes well, we have that data.

[34:00] I know that the sunrunner is our highest ridership route

[34:04] in the whole County, and it is the lowest

[34:07] cost per ride of any of our system, of any of our system.

[34:13] I think our average cost per ride of our whole,

[34:15] of all of our bus routes is about $7 per ride.

[34:21] Total subsidy.

[34:23] I know that the Suncoast beach trolley,

[34:25] obviously it has a high ridership year round,

[34:29] very high ridership during the spring break spring period,

[34:33] of course.

[34:34] And it is also one of our lower cost per ride services.

[34:38] So it's somewhere probably in the $5, $4, $5 a ride.

[34:42] So I don't totally understand that because the $7 a ride,

[34:46] for example, that would be a function of how

[34:49] much each city happens to be paying

[34:51] for their part of that service.

[34:54] And so I guess your $7 number takes into account.

[34:58] That's your cost to run the service.

[35:01] Is that right.

[35:02] So our cost would be how much we pay

[35:05] and then how many riders come or leave our city.

[35:11] And so we would divide out what we pay into what we think

[35:15] our ridership is that actually goes to the County park

[35:18] or to the stop for the Suncoast trolley.

[35:21] Yeah I think is that what we need.

[35:24] I think two things.

[35:26] One is that we don't pay for the sun runner.

[35:29] So in ST. Pete Beach, we're not paying

[35:30] anything for the sun runner.

[35:33] So there's no contract cost that we pay for the sun runner.

[35:36] We don't pay into the psta system on our property tax bill.

[35:41] I believe it's us, Treasure Island and South Pasadena that

[35:43] opted out of the psta system.

[35:46] Everywhere else in the County, they

[35:47] have a line item on their property tax bill

[35:49] with a specific millage that goes towards psta.

[35:53] And we don't and we don't pay for the sunrunner

[35:56] in ST Pete Beach.

[35:58] So we have 0 cost for the sunrunner.

[36:00] All right.

[36:00] So I was just trying to.

[36:01] Only for the trolley.

[36:03] So to separate out costs for a ride,

[36:05] we're really just talking about the Suncoast trolley,

[36:08] fiesta ST and the access.

[36:10] Yeah OK.

[36:11] OK yeah, that's.

[36:12] That's great.

[36:13] Yeah all right.

[36:16] I just want to do some more math here.

[36:19] We've got it.

[36:20] We're fortunate.

[36:20] We've got a psta representative like on the board or something.

[36:25] I only have a tiny head start because I've only

[36:27] been there for a little while.

[36:29] They do on the psta website for anybody that's

[36:32] interested in these numbers, they

[36:33] do publish monthly ridership data per route, including

[36:38] the cost to run the route, what the cost is, what

[36:41] the dollar amount is per rider, what

[36:44] the dollar amount is per rider.

[36:45] After you take into account what the fare that the rider pays,

[36:50] and then also what the dollar amount per rider per route

[36:53] is once you factor in any dollar amounts that a city like

[36:58] us contracts with state or federal funding

[37:01] or all the various things.

[37:02] So it is broken down very specifically

[37:05] in a lot of star reports that are

[37:07] available on the star website.

[37:10] So since now the sunrunner coming here

[37:14] doesn't give us the beach, the access services,

[37:19] it's the Suncoast trolley contract that allows

[37:22] us to have those services.

[37:23] Is that the way I understanding that in the past.

[37:27] Our contract for the ST. Pete Beach contract with psta

[37:32] includes whatever bus routes there are,

[37:34] plus the psta access program.

[37:37] Yes, yes.

[37:38] Historically, and if we had been the way it's been if we had

[37:40] 0 contract with the psta, if ST Pete Beach completely opted

[37:44] out and said, we don't want anything to do with it,

[37:47] we're not paying you any money.

[37:49] Would anybody in ST Pete Beach still be eligible for ST

[37:52] the psta access program.

[37:56] That would be up to the PSA board.

[37:58] I would think not.

[38:00] Yeah, I think not.

[38:01] Yeah OK.

[38:04] Can I ask a question a little differently.

[38:06] Because I think I want to make sure

[38:08] there may be a federal regulation

[38:11] that you provide the ST access program to people who are

[38:14] some distance from a bus stop.

[38:16] So, so for people who are 3/4 of a mile from every sunrunner

[38:21] stop might still have access.

[38:22] I think that is accurate, but the rest of the residents

[38:28] would not.

[38:29] Can I ask a quick question of Mandy

[38:33] please I noticed this is titled micro transit,

[38:37] and we're talking very much about the psta.

[38:39] And I know you kind of touched in on freebies,

[38:42] so I just want to make sure I understand what you're asking

[38:45] for from us this evening is to retain the service at some level

[38:50] of funding that theoretically includes psta and freebee,

[38:55] because you've tied them into this conversation,

[38:57] or some micro-transit because you've tied them into this

[38:59] conversation together.

[39:00] They're kind of tied in together,

[39:01] but they're still separate.

[39:02] So we're looking for two separate directions.

[39:05] So we are looking for a micro-transit direction, whether

[39:07] or not to keep the service.

[39:08] And if we do keep the service, what

[39:10] are we capping the funds at.

[39:14] Same with psta.

[39:16] Our request for the psta is going to continue the service,

[39:20] and if we do so, at what service level.

[39:23] At what service level is that a level of funding or the funding.

[39:26] The 242,000 and/or do we want to add elements such

[39:33] as the u-pass and trolley extension to go

[39:38] down further than County park.

[39:40] I think there were some questions

[39:42] to staff to explore what replacement options would be

[39:46] if we eliminated micro transit, so we

[39:48] decided to marry these two because they're

[39:51] down directly related.

[39:53] If you want to use sa'dah in some capacity to fill the gap,

[39:57] if you eliminate microtransit, we

[39:59] wanted you to know the expense.

[40:01] So we've provided you two options.

[40:03] Extend the beach trolley to the County park for 200,000 more.

[40:12] So that'd be 442,000 for psta.

[40:16] Hypothetically, if you want to go even

[40:19] further down to the dawn, you're probably

[40:20] talking another 200,000.

[40:22] So you'd be up to 642,000 for psta.

[40:26] And psta also graciously offered us another option of this $4,000

[40:31] per year for year 1, for this flamingo pass that could give

[40:36] residents an opportunity for a free only ST Pete Beach

[40:40] residents for a free, unlimited access to any psta bus plus

[40:47] system so they could ride sunrunner they could

[40:50] ride the trolley, they will.

[40:52] Route 9 will be gone.

[40:54] So basically sunrunner on the trolley

[40:56] and we would have 200 cards to start with.

[40:59] OK giving them annual free rides for the year.

[41:02] Yes and we would $4,000.

[41:04] And then they've offered after a year we would look at the data

[41:07] and we would renegotiate based on utilization and inflation OK.

[41:13]

[41:20] OK I think I might have so so the 242 for 2027

[41:27] is trolley and access.

[41:30] And then I might have missed it.

[41:31] There's another 200,000 option to bring

[41:34] the trolley down even further South

[41:36] theoretically to County park.

[41:38] Correct OK.

[41:40] And another option is this u-pass where we

[41:44] would pay 4,000 for 200 lucky souls

[41:47] to be able to ride for a year.

[41:50] Lottery right, right.

[41:52] OK OK.

[41:56] I think at least now have a better picture of it.

[41:58] Thank you.

[41:59] And so your questions are.

[42:00]

[42:03] Stay yes or no.

[42:04] And at what cost.

[42:06] Any additional micro-transit, which

[42:09] I'm almost because the alternative to micro-transit

[42:12] might be that you pass.

[42:13] So maybe I should lump the u-pass over into micro-transit.

[42:16] And possibly also this $200,000 for the trolley to go

[42:20] a little bit further might be the alternative

[42:21] to a micro-transit.

[42:22] I it's not micro-transit, but these are alternatives.

[42:25] If we lose micro-transit, I might make sure city staff.

[42:28] Is that kind of your thought process

[42:29] asked to explore with the only other contractual transit.

[42:37] Contract we currently have right now.

[42:39] Understood OK.

[42:41] And to be clear, there might be other micro transit options that

[42:44] may come available to us, or may be offered as part of this RFP

[42:48] that was mentioned at the beginning.

[42:49] No, you have in front of you we have

[42:51] five options, and they range from 250,

[42:53] 225,000 to over a million.

[42:56] Can I see them.

[42:57] Because I don't know that I see them.

[42:58] You won't see them because we haven't completed

[43:00] the procurement process.

[43:01] So at this point, we're only at this point,

[43:04] we haven't vetted the we haven't gone

[43:06] through the procurement process.

[43:08] We can't share who the vendors are, what.

[43:11] They've actually bid all of that information

[43:14] until we've actually done our internal vetting

[43:18] of each individual.

[43:21] I understand what you're saying I'm trying to figure out,

[43:23] is this a decision you want to make tonight.

[43:25] And then later you will come with the five

[43:27] options in more detail and we'll be able to make a decision.

[43:29] Or you're saying this is a budgetary decision tonight.

[43:32] So you all asked us to go out and do a proposal

[43:35] to see if we could get micro transit for less

[43:38] than half a million a year.

[43:39] Yes we have brought you back that we have one option for less

[43:44] than half a million a year.

[43:46] You have your current vendor for the same around a half a million

[43:49] a year, and three more vendors who are saying they

[43:52] will cost more.

[43:53] Understood so the question tonight

[43:55] is do you want to continue micro transit option.

[43:58] All right.

[43:59] Very specifically freebie in this case, which is no OK.

[44:03] Do you want to continue micro transit.

[44:06] And give us a budgetary amount to continue

[44:08] with our procurement process and budgeting, which

[44:11] we would then include in the budget you're

[44:13] going to see in two weeks.

[44:14] Understood OK.

[44:15] So this is that amount would be budgeted.

[44:18] Yeah this would be a not to exceed amount.

[44:20] So whatever.

[44:21] If you decide that you want to keep it

[44:23] this would be a not to exceed amount.

[44:25] And that amount would be used to negotiate

[44:27] a contract if you so want to move forward with micro transit.

[44:30] Understood that is a micro transit decision.

[44:32] Separately you want us to make a stay decision.

[44:35] OK got it.

[44:36] OK OK.

[44:37] Apologize for.

[44:38] That's OK.

[44:39] Took a little while for your words to get over to my head,

[44:41] so I got it now.

[44:41] Thank you.

[44:43] All right.

[44:44]

[44:47] I'm sorry.

[44:47] I know there's some questions.

[44:48] Commissioner Murray, please.

[44:49] Yeah thank you.

[44:50] I don't really have any questions.

[44:52] I have AI have a few thoughts.

[44:55] Because I think that's where we need to go

[44:59] is what direction are we going to go.

[45:03] So I think first we need to keep in mind

[45:09] a little bit of what the history is and how we got here.

[45:11] And so some number of years ago, we were paying more money

[45:16] for our psta contract, and the trolley went

[45:19] all the way to pass-a-grille.

[45:22] And largely it seemed at the time

[45:25] that the people in pass-a-grille were very unhappy with buses

[45:28] being in pass-a-grille at all.

[45:30] And so at that time ST Pete Beach went to the store

[45:35] and said, we don't want buses in pass-a-grille.

[45:38] Just to be clear, we don't want anything.

[45:40] We don't want any buses.

[45:41] We don't want any trolleys.

[45:42] I think at the time it was big buses going to pass-a-grille.

[45:45] Maybe they were calling it a trolley.

[45:46] I think it was the Central Avenue trolley,

[45:48] but it didn't look like a trolley.

[45:49] It was a big bus.

[45:50] And so, so the people in pass-a-grille said,

[45:53] we do not want the bus in pass-a-grille.

[45:55] And they got out their pitchforks

[45:56] and said, get the buses out of pass-a-grille.

[45:58] So the city commission at the time did that.

[46:02] And at that time decided that the money that they were saving

[46:06] by not paying psta for buses to go to pass-a-grille,

[46:09] they would use that money, use less than that amount of money

[46:13] for this microtransit service that just went from the County

[46:16] park to pass-a-grille.

[46:18] And it was significantly less than Don.

[46:22] Yeah, maybe in the beginning, it was just

[46:23] the beginning, just the Don.

[46:25] Just the Don to prasugrel.

[46:26] And then as people liked it and more people rode it,

[46:29] they expanded it to the County park,

[46:31] and then they expanded it to 75th,

[46:32] and then they expanded it into all the neighborhoods

[46:35] to anybody's front door.

[46:36] And every time we do that, it gets more expensive.

[46:38] So that's how we end up with this $500,000 city subsidized

[46:43] Uber rides is what we're doing.

[46:47] And so the question is if $500,000 is too much,

[46:53] what do we want to subsidize?

[46:56] What do we want to provide for transit in the city.

[46:59] And so my thoughts about that are a couple of things.

[47:03] I looked multiple times in the last couple of weeks.

[47:07] I think I can take an Uber from the North Beach area

[47:11] neighborhood area to prasugrel for 9 to $12 any time I want to.

[47:18] So maybe I'm not doing it at the busiest times.

[47:22] Maybe I'm missing the surge pricing.

[47:24] But generally speaking, there are private services available

[47:29] that can move people around in ST Pete Beach that are much

[47:34] cheaper per person, per ride than

[47:37] what we're paying for micro transit

[47:39] at a $500,000 a year level.

[47:44] Now that we are charging non-residents

[47:48] to ride on the freebee any group of three or more non-residents,

[47:53] it's cheaper for them to take an Uber

[47:54] than it is for them to take the freebee.

[47:58] So I'm not sure what the actual ridership numbers are.

[48:02] I'm sure we've all gotten the same information from residents

[48:05] about whether they use it all the time and love it,

[48:08] or whether they wish they could use it

[48:09] and can't ever use it because the wait times are too long

[48:11] or all of those things.

[48:12] But for me, the root of the question for micro transit

[48:17] is should the city be paying to subsidize rides that are very

[48:24] readily available in the private market all day

[48:27] long, seven days a week.

[48:29] Or do we not.

[48:31] And if we do, at what dollar level.

[48:33] And so for me, I'm not comfortable with the city

[48:37] providing or subsidizing or paying into picking

[48:43] a favorite from private enterprise who

[48:46] can provide the same service.

[48:48] There's other services in the city

[48:50] that provide similar services.

[48:52] There's free beachside, there's island hopper, there's Uber,

[48:56] there's a lot of options that people have for getting around.

[48:58] So for me, the micro-transit decision

[49:02] is that generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of it.

[49:09] If the people in pass-a-grille welcomed having buses,

[49:14] that's probably the most efficient

[49:15] way to move people around.

[49:17] But I haven't gotten the impression

[49:19] that that's what they want.

[49:21] And so I don't think that's don't

[49:25] think that's a necessary or something

[49:28] that's worth looking into.

[49:30] So for me, my recommendation would be to discontinue

[49:35] the microtransit program.

[49:37] Let's take that $500,000 and do something else with it.

[49:40] On the psta side.

[49:44] I'm a little more conflicted because there are those

[49:47] 70,000 people that get on the trolley

[49:50] in ST Pete Beach and go North.

[49:52] Some number of those are people who, live in ST Pete Beach

[49:58] and want to go to John's Pass.

[50:00] Some number of those are people that

[50:02] stay at the hotels on the beach and want to go to Clearwater.

[50:05] A lot of them are employees of the various

[50:08] of the various hotels further North.

[50:11] And so that's one thing.

[50:14] The more important part of it to me

[50:16] is the psta access program, because that's really

[50:19] if you want to look at what should

[50:22] taxpayer dollars be going for.

[50:25] Or why do we all pay into this pot of money

[50:27] that cities use to spend on things.

[50:30] One of those things to me is that we take care of the people

[50:33] who need the most help.

[50:34] And so to me, the PST psta access program is

[50:40] the more important part of it.

[50:42] And so I think it's worth exploring what those numbers are

[50:46] and negotiating a little bit more with psta

[50:48] and figuring out what the options are.

[50:50] So my recommendation would be that we discontinue

[50:54] microtransit, but we continue to look into the psta maybe

[50:57] go ahead and put that number in the budget

[50:59] as a placeholder for now while we continue

[51:01] to figure out what we're doing.

[51:03] If we can't come to some agreement that seems reasonable,

[51:06] we can still cancel it and reallocate that money.

[51:09] But that would be that's where I'm landing on this.

[51:13]

[51:16] I apologize, I don't Mr. Carter.

[51:19] Well, yeah, I'll go ahead because I went to that was well

[51:22] put, Commissioner Marriott.

[51:25]

[51:28] So as far as the pasta service goes,

[51:32] I'm wondering, since we're trying

[51:34] to look for cuts in our budget right now, what if we gave

[51:39] them a limit of a half of that.

[51:42] Or say, 100,000 and ask for what level

[51:46] of service could be provided to us at 100,000

[51:51] instead of the 242,000?

[51:54] And that way we would perhaps decrease, or maybe

[51:58] we wouldn't decrease our ridership,

[52:01] and then we would also retain the access service.

[52:05] So we would basically be saying, what service can

[52:10] we get for half that amount.

[52:13] Does that seem like it would be a thing.

[52:18] I'm not my limited granted my limited knowledge

[52:23] well of the star system would be that it.

[52:28] Perhaps anything is possible, but it may also

[52:30] be difficult. If you're looking at if you think about a bus

[52:36] route and you go, it comes down this street

[52:38] and it stops at these three places

[52:40] and it goes back and forth this many times,

[52:43] there's a cost to that.

[52:44] And if they're trying to allocate their cost of what it

[52:46] costs to run the bus in the city and have us pay for that,

[52:49] I don't know how you cut that in half

[52:51] unless you decrease the number of routes or times.

[52:56] Yeah, decrease the number of times it comes into the city.

[52:58] And I mean, that's their business.

[52:59] I mean, yeah what it's worth.

[53:02] I took one of those numbers earlier.

[53:04] The ridership was nine months and the other ridership

[53:07] was 10 months.

[53:07] So I just equal them out to an annual ridership.

[53:10] We get about 84,000 on the trolley

[53:12] and about 5,000 on the access.

[53:13] Just using those numbers and putting them out

[53:15] to 12 months worth of service.

[53:16] So you think 30,000 riders, I'm sorry,

[53:19] 90,000 total riders between trolley and access at $220,000

[53:24] was our cost last year.

[53:25] Ended up about $2.44 per ride.

[53:29] Projected at 242 this year, which is next year's.

[53:33] Assuming the ridership stays the same, that's $268,

[53:36] $2.68 per ride.

[53:38] So I mean less than $3.

[53:40] We're getting rides for $90,000 people, theoretically.

[53:45] Yeah moving around.

[53:46] The freebies been costing us $16 a ride or something.

[53:49] Yeah and the freebie is 15 to 17 or whatever the number is.

[53:52] So I'm with you.

[53:56] So we got two separate questions.

[53:58] One is micro transit at all.

[54:00] Second is psta.

[54:01] And at what level.

[54:02] And if micro transit at what level as well.

[54:05] OK OK.

[54:07] Sorry Mr. Robinson.

[54:09] Well, OK.

[54:10] Well, I think my recommendation then would be to see what level

[54:14] of service we could get for 100,000 from the psta,

[54:18] and that would also include the access that we have now and then

[54:24] I don't think we've talked about micro-transit enough, really

[54:28] to make a statement on that.

[54:31] I know I get letters from people that say they use it

[54:35] all the time, and they want to keep it,

[54:36] but I also have letters from people who think that we

[54:39] should cut it from our budget.

[54:41] And I think Commissioner Marriott's points

[54:44] about alternatives that don't cost anything.

[54:49] It's hard to see how we would subsidize something that is.

[54:55] In fact, I feel like I know we have

[54:57] at least one local business that provides service to our city.

[55:01] And it seems like the thing to do

[55:04] is to try to incentivize your local businesses

[55:07] and make them as strong as you can.

[55:10] So I almost see it's almost the opposite of that mindset.

[55:14] So I guess that's my comment for right now.

[55:17] I Mr. Robinson, we may circle back around, I guess,

[55:20] if you need that, I would second everything.

[55:24] Commissioner Marriott said.

[55:26] But I would offer also preface it with the fact

[55:28] that we're not in a financially good situation in the city.

[55:34] If we may not even be having this discussion.

[55:38] But after the hurricanes, after what.

[55:41] Our storm system, our sewers are out.

[55:44] What we're looking at right now, talking about increasing,

[55:47] potentially increasing ad valorem.

[55:50] Adding the rate hikes onto everything

[55:53] and then still having those assessments on our tax Bills.

[55:57] It's a hard one to swallow when it's

[56:01] monies that could be used better elsewhere within the city.

[56:06] So as far as for me, for the micro transit at this time,

[56:12] I don't think it's the right option to go with.

[56:15] I think there's other options within the city.

[56:18] There have been other options within the city.

[56:21] Other alternatives.

[56:24] The cost.

[56:25] Cost per person is just way too high.

[56:31] So as long as we fulfilled any legal obligations that we have

[56:35] from a transportation aspect, which

[56:37] I believe we have with sunrunner in general,

[56:39] I think we're safe on that.

[56:42] I would as far as the psta side of things, the access

[56:48] and the mobility on demand, I don't believe

[56:51] they're the only alternative out there

[56:54] as well for Access on Demand.

[57:00] So that would be something I would

[57:01] look at as well, not just psta or shop psta against others.

[57:07] I mean, that's what we're about and in the city.

[57:12] So I think we should just do what's right

[57:15] and vet it from that standpoint.

[57:19] As far as actual trolley, I'm more for the mobility

[57:23] on demand aspect.

[57:26] See what we can get that.

[57:27] I mean, what are we looking at.

[57:28] We're looking at 5,000 riders.

[57:31] I mean, that's got to be a fairly

[57:33] low amount versus 242,000.

[57:37] So that savings plus the freebie could

[57:40] go a long way in our budget.

[57:42] And what we're asking of the residents as a whole.

[57:47] So that's where I would stand on that Mr. Maldonado.

[57:54] So I'm going to ride commissioner Robinson's wave

[57:56] and talk about the budget the fact that we're

[57:58] at a financial cliff in trying to figure out where

[58:02] we can shed wasteful spending.

[58:05] I don't believe in subsidizing, what we would

[58:08] consider commuter services.

[58:10] I do think it's important to consider the paratransit,

[58:13] the access services, to make sure

[58:14] that we're not hurting our most vulnerable populations.

[58:20] And then also, just a comment on the u-pass.

[58:22] You said 200 passes.

[58:23] I believe we have 1,000 persons currently enrolled in freebie.

[58:29] We have about 1,200, but we haven't been able

[58:31] to surmise from the data is how many

[58:32] of those are actually using it.

[58:34] Yeah so that's a big challenge for us to get ahead of

[58:36] is to make sure that if we do go with that option, which seems

[58:41] like a pretty big value for what's being offered,

[58:43] that we have appropriately looked at that.

[58:47] And then also whether it's going to be a lottery system

[58:49] or a needs based economic based system or something like that.

[58:53] I echo the comments of Commissioner Marriott

[58:57] and Commissioner Robinson and saying

[58:59] that microtransit at this point, I can't support that.

[59:02] Not that I don't want to.

[59:03] I see my freebie friends here.

[59:05] I know them in the community.

[59:07] But it's just I've got so much input to say that we just can't

[59:11] financially fiscally be responsible and say that we

[59:15] support it at this point.

[59:16] So thank you Mr. mayor.

[59:22] Yes, sorry.

[59:23] Thank you for indulging me one more time.

[59:25] I had one other quick comment that I forgot to mention before,

[59:29] which is that when the trade winds and the conditional use

[59:34] permits were approved, part of those developments,

[59:37] if they ever are allowed to go forward,

[59:40] is that they would be paying in I believe the number would be

[59:48] $225,000 a year for five years between

[59:52] the two of them for the first five years towards transit.

[59:56] And so, if we get to the point where those projects are going

[1:00:00] forward, that $225,000 a year would go a long way towards

[1:00:04] bringing back some sort of microtransit program if we chose

[1:00:07] to at that point, or expanding the bus

[1:00:10] system or something like that.

[1:00:12] So I think that that's just if we decide not to move forward

[1:00:17] with microtransit right now, that

[1:00:19] doesn't mean that we're never going to circle back to it.

[1:00:21]

[1:00:25] OK city manager, did we ever get I don't believe we ever

[1:00:35] got ridership numbers from our current microtransit like,

[1:00:39] I know we ultimately said it's 15 to $17 per person,

[1:00:43] so we must have some sense of ridership.

[1:00:45] And you just mentioned 1,200 registered.

[1:00:48] OK We receive ridership numbers each month when they submit

[1:00:52] their invoice to the city.

[1:00:54] And right now we're about 4,000 is traditionally

[1:00:58] what their invoicing at.

[1:01:00] They're saying that there's about 4,000 trips per month

[1:01:06] and then it doesn't break it down further

[1:01:09] to resident and non-resident.

[1:01:11] So, I mean, at this point, once we did the math off

[1:01:15] of the 38,000 approximately that they're paying,

[1:01:18] it ended up being about $17 a trip that they were paying,

[1:01:21] that we're paying in.

[1:01:23] OK, so you've already done that math 550 that we pay

[1:01:26] minus the $3 per and we end up losing the cost of the city

[1:01:30] is about 17, about 17 per trip in the net end

[1:01:33] of all that versus and again, I did some early math early on.

[1:01:37] I know that they're not equivalent.

[1:01:39] But the math on the bus was $2.45, something in that range

[1:01:43] versus $17 per ride.

[1:01:45] I think the u-pass is an interesting alternative.

[1:01:49] I think maybe some of these for our paratransit.

[1:01:53] I think the star access is also an interesting alternative.

[1:01:58] And as other commissioners have pointed out,

[1:02:00] we've got everybody has access to commercially available Ubers

[1:02:04] and Lyfts and things like that.

[1:02:05] So I do have a hard time given the budget pieces that we're

[1:02:10] in right now, saying that I can feel comfortable

[1:02:15] continuing to fund microtransit.

[1:02:19] I know there's a lot of passion in the community,

[1:02:22] so we don't always take comments,

[1:02:26] but I frankly think we should take a few

[1:02:27] and just hear what people are out.

[1:02:29] If you don't mind, do you have a concern.

[1:02:31] Yeah I mean, I think we should just hear a few.

[1:02:33] How many audience comments do we have.

[1:02:36] City clerk, please on this topic or do you know.

[1:02:40] It looks like there's four.

[1:02:41] OK yeah.

[1:02:42] I think can we please take those comments.

[1:02:46] Cameron mazzucchi.

[1:02:48]

[1:02:51] That's a hard one.

[1:02:52]

[1:02:55] Do I do we have to do the thing with the address or is this OK.

[1:02:58] Cameron mazzucchi, 3307 West Marianna drive, ST Pete Beach.

[1:03:03] I think this has been a great discussion.

[1:03:07] We're in a time where obviously our economics

[1:03:11] are really hurting.

[1:03:12] So I've personally never been for freebie.

[1:03:18] And I live right across the street from the dances

[1:03:21] are where freebie originated, so I know the history,

[1:03:24] but I can tell you right away that it's not going

[1:03:27] to pass the grill only right.

[1:03:29] Within a month or two they were already

[1:03:31] expanding their business, which and it seems like that's

[1:03:35] all they've been doing since.

[1:03:36] We want to go from golf carts to Teslas,

[1:03:38] we want to go to minivans.

[1:03:40] So it's just been this get their foot in the door

[1:03:43] and just expand at the cost of taxpayers

[1:03:46] because there's nothing free about freebie.

[1:03:50] What I can say is that we have a self-sustaining company that's

[1:03:54] a neighbor of mine and a service I've used as well in free beach

[1:03:58] ride, and they've proven that with no budget

[1:04:02] that they've been able to survive for,

[1:04:04] I think almost 17 years.

[1:04:06] So I would suggest give freebie their budget

[1:04:10] and see how long freebie lasts on the beach.

[1:04:13] And in turn, I'd say if we're going

[1:04:15] to give any money to anybody, we should have from the day one,

[1:04:19] let's look right here in our own community.

[1:04:21] First, we have companies here, and they weren't even asked

[1:04:24] what could those people do with even half of the budget

[1:04:28] of the freebie is asking for.

[1:04:31] I bet they can do quite a bit.

[1:04:33] So it's not really fair to us.

[1:04:36] And another thing too, that I'm seeing

[1:04:38] freebie versus other companies.

[1:04:39] We're like a community.

[1:04:41] We shouldn't be pitted from one company from Miami

[1:04:44] against locals.

[1:04:47] Hopefully what would happen if money

[1:04:49] is given to another company is that there's

[1:04:51] more drivers needed.

[1:04:52] And if drivers need a job somewhere else,

[1:04:54] they can move to that company and

[1:04:56] hopefully it's a local company.

[1:04:58] Thank you.

[1:05:00] Thank you sir.

[1:05:00]

[1:05:05] Bonnie Arnold.

[1:05:06]

[1:05:11] OK.

[1:05:12] Hi.

[1:05:13] Bonnie Arnold.

[1:05:15] 216 44th Avenue.

[1:05:18] ST Pete Beach.

[1:05:19] Lived on this beach for 50 years.

[1:05:23] I have been through a lot on this beach.

[1:05:28] Freebie is a beautiful thing.

[1:05:32] It keeps people like, basically safe.

[1:05:36] They can call and be done door to door.

[1:05:40] OK psta does not do that.

[1:05:45] And basically, your sunrunner is bringing a lot of people.

[1:05:51] Excuse me.

[1:05:53] I love everybody, but we got a lot of strangers

[1:05:58] coming as I'm out at different times of the evening,

[1:06:03] not because I'm a street person, but because my life

[1:06:09] turns around.

[1:06:11] And I might be out.

[1:06:13] I go get I go to 7-eleven and get my pickles.

[1:06:16] I'm telling you, people are coming on the beach.

[1:06:20] I talk to the sheriffs.

[1:06:22] Trust me.

[1:06:23] A lot of people know me.

[1:06:24] Even the sheriffs.

[1:06:26] OK The fact is, I'm harmless.

[1:06:30] Fact is, we have a lot sunrunner is bringing a lot of people

[1:06:37] in that we don't want.

[1:06:39] The sheriffs are on the beach bunches of times

[1:06:45] that I watch them.

[1:06:46] I have a condo at sunrise besides my house on 44th.

[1:06:53] And I sit there and I'll be out on the porch

[1:06:55] and I'm going like, what is going on.

[1:06:59] And that's what they're doing.

[1:07:01] They're doing the homeless.

[1:07:03] I am super sorry about the homeless,

[1:07:06] but I don't think ST Pete Beach residents want this.

[1:07:12] And I'm talking about their men like they need mental help.

[1:07:18] And, I mean, I'll walk into 7-eleven

[1:07:21] and they're ready to fight me, and it'll be a girl.

[1:07:24] And I'm like, sitting there going, geez,

[1:07:27] I just want my bagels.

[1:07:28] I'm talking about and minding my own business.

[1:07:32] What I'm talking about is you've got

[1:07:34] a lot of people coming in that you guys aren't up at that time.

[1:07:42] All right.

[1:07:43] And they're coming in.

[1:07:44] And the businesses are open.

[1:07:48] All right.

[1:07:49] And we're not even talking about the drunks.

[1:07:52] We're talking about they're coming in on the sunrunner

[1:07:58] freebie comes and picks you up.

[1:08:01] What have you.

[1:08:02] So how about charging.

[1:08:05] Like, how about free.

[1:08:07] I don't think the residents would be pissed

[1:08:09] off about paying a little bit.

[1:08:14] I don't think it needs to be the city burden,

[1:08:17] but the fact is, it should not be a city burden.

[1:08:22] Period it's not doing.

[1:08:25] It's not bringing what we need to do.

[1:08:30] I mean, we're trying to bring tourists into tourists.

[1:08:34] That's great.

[1:08:35] But homeless is not.

[1:08:37] And you're transiting.

[1:08:38] I'm sorry.

[1:08:39] I'm over my time.

[1:08:39] Thank you.

[1:08:40] Thank you very much.

[1:08:42] I'll just say Bob Spera.

[1:08:44]

[1:08:47] So, Bob Spera, 1605 pass-a-grille way.

[1:08:52] I had a lot of good things I was going to talk about,

[1:08:54] but you guys have done a super great job

[1:08:56] of vetting the whole situation.

[1:08:59] I was originally coming up to in my career,

[1:09:03] I've been a vendor who's answered over 100 RFPs

[1:09:07] in my career, and I guess the comments that I would make is I

[1:09:14] know a lot of times these decisions get made in a vacuum,

[1:09:17] and maybe you guys aren't.

[1:09:19] Maybe this I don't these are questions.

[1:09:22] The decision gets made and then they present you the findings.

[1:09:26] But I would just say in my line of business,

[1:09:31] there's always like a lights out.

[1:09:34] Piece of the contract.

[1:09:36] And so I do know my wife works for freebee.

[1:09:39] One thing I'm very, very surprised at

[1:09:42] is how well that business is run.

[1:09:44] And it sounds like it costs money to run it.

[1:09:49] Nothing's free.

[1:09:50] But I would also say that these guys really, really that.

[1:09:56] And the lights out component is if I would just

[1:09:59] say I would make sure that you make sure the people selecting

[1:10:03] or making recommendations make sure that from a legal

[1:10:06] perspective, there's enough insurance involved in how this

[1:10:10] is handled, because one catastrophic event

[1:10:13] with a company that you decide to go with,

[1:10:15] if you do decide to go with micro,

[1:10:18] could end up turning the lights out.

[1:10:19] So that's just me being a concerned

[1:10:21] citizen, whatever that's worth.

[1:10:24] Yeah thanks.

[1:10:24]

[1:10:28] Dana Richardson.

[1:10:29]

[1:10:33] Thanks Dana Richardson 5830 Bahama way South.

[1:10:39] So we moved here in 2020.

[1:10:42] And before then used to use free beach rides.

[1:10:47] And it was great and it worked.

[1:10:49] And I agree with Karen Marriott Lisa and maybe some others here.

[1:10:55] I think that we can get rid of freebie.

[1:11:00] Is it a great product.

[1:11:01] Sure but it's very costly.

[1:11:04] And right now, we just don't have the money to spend.

[1:11:08] Maybe another day in the future, but not now.

[1:11:13] And I do believe if freebie does get canceled that would also

[1:11:21] bring in maybe different companies to come in

[1:11:25] or free beach rides.

[1:11:27] Just beefs up what they have.

[1:11:30] So that's my view.

[1:11:33] And again, like with Karen said, I

[1:11:36] don't have a lot of use for PTSA,

[1:11:39] but anything to do with the ones that are the least fortunate,

[1:11:43] the handicapped.

[1:11:44] I am all for.

[1:11:46] Thank you so much.

[1:11:47] Yeah I have no more public comment on this topic.

[1:11:53] OK thank you.

[1:11:55]

[1:11:58] Yes, sir.

[1:11:59] Go ahead please.

[1:11:59] A quick question while we have Brad here.

[1:12:04] I had mentioned the possibility of working to try to have only

[1:12:10] one bus at a time in the County park,

[1:12:13] and so if we end up with the service,

[1:12:18] then I understood you were going to look into that.

[1:12:21] So I think that would be great.

[1:12:24] And as I've said, I've seen the bus too in this lot very often.

[1:12:31] And a third one on the street, sometimes

[1:12:34] waiting to get into the lot.

[1:12:36] And then what I wanted to reemphasize

[1:12:39] is that I've also seen the drivers stop northbound

[1:12:44] at the coffee shops, and so that blocks one of the two lanes

[1:12:50] on Gulf Boulevard.

[1:12:52] So there's the Starbucks basically across the street

[1:12:54] there.

[1:12:55] So the sunrunner will be stopped on Gulf Boulevard

[1:12:58] there in front of Starbucks with for an indefinite amount

[1:13:02] of time.

[1:13:03] And then the next coffee shop northward is Caribou Coffee.

[1:13:07] And it also stops there and stays.

[1:13:10] I know the drivers go inside and order whatever.

[1:13:14] So I wanted to highlight that to you

[1:13:18] as a pain point that we notice.

[1:13:23] That's all.

[1:13:24] That's all I had.

[1:13:26] OK thank you.

[1:13:28] Yes, sir.

[1:13:29] Yes, sir.

[1:13:30] My question.

[1:13:31] Mandy, the last time we discussed this,

[1:13:33] I had requested that staff pull or informally coordinate

[1:13:37] with some of the hotels, the larger hotels,

[1:13:39] to see if they were willing.

[1:13:41] As commissioner Marriott just reminded me about

[1:13:45] if they'd be willing to subsidize it if the city did

[1:13:48] not, was that done.

[1:13:50] I can say I personally reached out.

[1:13:52] There was a monthly hoteliers meeting.

[1:13:54] I brought up this topic and the general tenor of the feedback

[1:14:00] was they were not interested because they'd

[1:14:02] like to keep their guests on site

[1:14:05] and that incentivizes their guests leaving

[1:14:08] these larger resort areas.

[1:14:11] And so there was no interest in helping.

[1:14:13] Thank you.

[1:14:14] Now, that's a very justifiable answer from their perspective,

[1:14:17] but it just triggered me when I will

[1:14:19] say that Tradewinds I know Tradewinds

[1:14:23] and perhaps the Serrata.

[1:14:24] But the Tradewinds has their own contract with psta,

[1:14:27] where Tradewinds employees get one of those u-pass bus passes,

[1:14:32] as do all of the Tradewinds guests.

[1:14:35] So though Tradewinds isn't contributing to the city's

[1:14:39] micro mobility program, they are contributing

[1:14:42] to a way for their employees and guests

[1:14:44] to get around without having to rent a car.

[1:14:47] OK, interesting.

[1:14:48] That's actually a good information.

[1:14:51] OK city manager, do you have what you need.

[1:14:54] Good just want to make sure.

[1:14:55] OK thank you very much.

[1:14:57] I appreciate you and lively interesting discussion.

[1:15:00] Thank you, everybody, for your feedback.

[1:15:01] We appreciate you.

[1:15:02] I know there's a lot of I will say this.

[1:15:04] We get lots of emails on this.

[1:15:06] I know there's a lot of passion on both sides.

[1:15:08] So, thank you for everybody for your passion and your feedback.

[1:15:12] I think right now we're just trying to figure out what we can

[1:15:15] do with budget constraints and other things

[1:15:16] that we're dealing with.

[1:15:17] So thank you all OK.

[1:15:22] All right.

[1:15:24] Next I'm sorry.

[1:15:25] Were there other.

[1:15:26] Were there other audience comments for general audience

[1:15:28] comments which is next on the agenda

[1:15:30] I think where we're headed next.

[1:15:31] Yes So please call general comments, please.

[1:15:34] Vincent Taormina.

[1:15:35]

[1:15:44] Questions I don't understand why that p sta goes all the way from

[1:15:50] clear water and stops at 75th, when all

[1:15:54] the rest of the towns are being has stops,

[1:15:58] and then it stops at 75th.

[1:16:00] That's one question.

[1:16:01] Second one, I'd like to know when Publix is returning

[1:16:05] because that's also a problem.

[1:16:08] The third is that I spoke to Bruce Wright

[1:16:12] today in the tax collector's office.

[1:16:15] And they have a mistaken thing.

[1:16:19] When we had the flood with Helene Idalia the hurricanes,

[1:16:25] they put down our homes as being remodeled

[1:16:29] instead of repaired and raised us $200,000 on our market value.

[1:16:38] OK, I'm trying to get it fixed and it ranges from Bella vista

[1:16:45] through the dongsi area.

[1:16:47] So I need the city to help out with this to take care of it.

[1:16:53] It went up 200,000 because he said to me, Bruce, right.

[1:16:57] Oh, that was a remodel.

[1:16:58] I said, no, it wasn't.

[1:16:59] It was a repair to get back in my house.

[1:17:03] We had a hurricane here.

[1:17:05] I mean, I didn't choose to spend that kind of money

[1:17:08] to remodel my house.

[1:17:11] And that's the whole problem, what's going on right now.

[1:17:15] And that's going to affect a lot of things because I told him,

[1:17:19] and it's going to affect you guys too,

[1:17:21] because a lot of people are going

[1:17:22] to vote yes on three in November because of this situation.

[1:17:29] They should have never did that.

[1:17:32] He's looking into it.

[1:17:34] And I came to the city tonight to see if you guys could help

[1:17:37] out with this because there's a lot of homes

[1:17:41] and a lot of properties, and I was on the phone with him

[1:17:43] for almost an hour and a half, and we were going through them,

[1:17:46] and they're down as remodels instead of repairs.

[1:17:51] And all these subdivisions are getting rates $200,000

[1:17:57] on the market value of the house,

[1:17:58] which is raising their taxes, and new

[1:18:00] people are looking for money to raise the millage rate.

[1:18:02] I mean, there's a lot of things that are involved in this,

[1:18:05] and November is the biggest thing where they're

[1:18:08] going to say yes on three because they

[1:18:09] want to get rid of Pinellas County in plain English.

[1:18:13] So, I mean, we need to get this fixed.

[1:18:17] That's it.

[1:18:18] Thank you, thank you.

[1:18:21] Yes city manager I would just personally comment I mean,

[1:18:24] if we got our everybody's trying to get back

[1:18:26] from these hurricanes and obviously if they got

[1:18:28] mischaracterized inappropriately I would love us to see

[1:18:31] if that's truly happening.

[1:18:34] If I could ask, please, would you and your team

[1:18:36] just look and see if they've been mischaracterized?

[1:18:38] Let's make sure that they're characterized appropriately,

[1:18:41] because we don't want to punish people for just trying to get

[1:18:43] back on their feet, post-storm.

[1:18:44] And I'll scratch that off my list for our next meeting.

[1:18:50] Thank you.

[1:18:50] OK thank you.

[1:18:52] City clerk, please.

[1:18:53] Michael pezza.

[1:18:54]

[1:18:58] Got some pictures I want to pass on to you guys.

[1:19:01]

[1:19:05] Thank you.

[1:19:07] Thank you sir.

[1:19:09] Thank you sir.

[1:19:11] Thanks he's afraid to lift my shoulder.

[1:19:18]

[1:19:21] I'm going to tell you about my chiropractor.

[1:19:25] My name is Mike pezza.

[1:19:26] I live at 124th Avenue.

[1:19:29] Some of you may remember, ours was the home that we were

[1:19:33] willing to donate to the city.

[1:19:34] This was about a year ago.

[1:19:36] It didn't work out.

[1:19:37] But that was the start of our beginning to build a new home.

[1:19:44] I'm addressing you all today with some recent circumstances

[1:19:47] and our new construction.

[1:19:49] I'm going to highlight some of the important dates

[1:19:51] that you can find.

[1:19:52] The rest and are uploaded.

[1:19:53] Permit application on 822 of 2025 was a year ago.

[1:19:59] We submitted for permit and 9 2 2025 our architectural drawings

[1:20:05] without pilings were stamped approved

[1:20:07] by the building reviewer Joseph Payne on 10:00/9:00, 2025.

[1:20:13] The revision drawing with geotech

[1:20:15] and scour recommendations notated

[1:20:17] were submitted by our architect.

[1:20:20] We then went into a four month delay

[1:20:22] due to an issue we had with the sanitary line

[1:20:24] with our neighbors.

[1:20:26] Got that resolved on 213 2026.

[1:20:30] Our architectural drawings stamped approved by zoning

[1:20:33] by Brandon Berry on 26.

[1:20:38] Site inspection past seven 926.

[1:20:41] Our permit was approved and 7 1026.

[1:20:45] Our soil compaction was in progress seven 1426.

[1:20:49] Soil density test report submitted to the city 7:15.

[1:20:53] Our foundation excavation started 724.

[1:20:57] Our foundation formwork and Rebar began

[1:21:00] was in progress on eight 226.

[1:21:04] Rebar inspection was requested.

[1:21:06] There was an unknown fee for $25 that held it up.

[1:21:09] So our builder went back on 819, requested the Rebar inspection

[1:21:13] again for August 21 of 26.

[1:21:18] On August 21 of 26, while waiting for inspection,

[1:21:21] our builder received a phone call from the inspector

[1:21:23] that our inspection was being canceled.

[1:21:26] Our builder immediately went to the city offices

[1:21:29] and was told by Lou Curtis that the property is within 300 feet

[1:21:32] of a coastal construction lane, and

[1:21:34] the criteria was overlooked during the planning

[1:21:37] review process.

[1:21:39] He also stated that he was sorry,

[1:21:40] but a third party reviewer was used by the city

[1:21:43] and it was simply overlooked.

[1:21:46] He showed our builder some software

[1:21:47] that the city uses to determine the rule,

[1:21:49] but explained that this offer is not available to the public.

[1:21:55] Our builder was also told that there are a few other situations

[1:21:57] like this that have slipped through the cracks,

[1:22:00] but they are too far along for the city

[1:22:02] to do anything about them.

[1:22:05] The city had over one year to inform us of this matter.

[1:22:08] No correspondence was made by any building official

[1:22:10] prior to last Friday to inform us.

[1:22:13] We heard through a building inspector on a phone call

[1:22:15] that a permit was being held up because we are not in compliance

[1:22:18] and pilots are required.

[1:22:20] No prior communication at all with the city is doing.

[1:22:25] Keep going.

[1:22:26] Keep going.

[1:22:26] Please please continue.

[1:22:27] Thank you.

[1:22:28] Thank you.

[1:22:28] Mayor what the city is doing is untimely and unfair.

[1:22:31] Both geotech and structural engineers

[1:22:34] have stated that this does not pose either a health

[1:22:36] or safety issue to the public.

[1:22:39] We've met all the requirements.

[1:22:41] And there's no way to discern its enforcement

[1:22:43] due to the fact that the city uses a map that

[1:22:45] is not available to the public.

[1:22:47] This is causing tremendous financial and time lost

[1:22:50] hardship, and if enforced, we are

[1:22:52] looking at a financial impact to us upwards of $150,000.

[1:22:57] The whole thing would have to be redone.

[1:23:01] We have met all our safety requirements,

[1:23:03] and you're applying this rule in arbitrary, capricious manner.

[1:23:06] The city needs to step in and take a look at this

[1:23:09] and address this situation exponentially

[1:23:12] in order, in effect, to avoid these financial damages to us.

[1:23:17] Thank you.

[1:23:18] Thank you sir.

[1:23:19] I've given you guys the pictures to show

[1:23:21] you where we're at with this.

[1:23:24] And there's a lot of work that has been done.

[1:23:27] At this point, I talked to the contractor

[1:23:30] and he stated that they would have to start over

[1:23:33] from the beginning, remove all the soil,

[1:23:36] all the Rebar, all the footings.

[1:23:38] They've been working on this for over a month.

[1:23:40] If this was brought to our attention

[1:23:42] before we went for permit, we would have had no choice.

[1:23:45] We would have done the pylons, but I never said we went.

[1:23:49] We had it compacted.

[1:23:50] We did everything.

[1:23:51] The city has asked for us.

[1:23:52] And now this comes up at the 11th hour, which

[1:23:55] I just don't think is fair.

[1:23:57] Understood I did thank you.

[1:23:59] City manager, can you please make sure that we have staff

[1:24:03] look into this.

[1:24:04] Do we have contact information.

[1:24:06] I'd like to make sure that he has.

[1:24:08] Please if he could either get your information

[1:24:10] for questions, please.

[1:24:12] And I would like you please, to help

[1:24:16] make sure that we follow through on this as appropriate

[1:24:19] as we can.

[1:24:21] I know who you are, Mr. President, so I'll be in touch.

[1:24:24] I would give you my business card,

[1:24:25] but they've been all given out.

[1:24:27] But I'll be in touch.

[1:24:28] Thank you.

[1:24:28] OK thank you.

[1:24:29] Sir Dana Richardson.

[1:24:35]

[1:24:41] Dana Richardson, 5830 Bahama way South.

[1:24:45] I just had one thing to say about the extension

[1:24:50] of the chill contract.

[1:24:52] I enjoy going to chill.

[1:24:54] I've been there many times in the evenings

[1:24:56] and listen to music, so I love chill.

[1:25:00] But with this contract, I personally

[1:25:04] would like to keep things black, white and very clean.

[1:25:08] And is it possible to just do the $1,500

[1:25:12] month rental fee versus a percentage

[1:25:17] of outdoor versus indoor.

[1:25:19] I think that can be possibly.

[1:25:24] Well, I'm not even going to say it.

[1:25:26] All I'm saying I prefer to keep it clean.

[1:25:28] A flat rate, whatever that rate is on a monthly basis.

[1:25:33] Thank you.

[1:25:34] Thank you.

[1:25:35]

[1:25:38] I have no further comments.

[1:25:41] OK thank you so much.

[1:25:44] Always good.

[1:25:45] Always good feedback.

[1:25:45] Thank you, everybody.

[1:25:48] Over to the consent agenda.

[1:25:51] Just a reminder.

[1:25:51] We pulled B, C and J for separate discussion minus those.

[1:26:01] Do we have a motion on the remaining items minus BC

[1:26:05] and j motion to approve the consent items

[1:26:09] or accept them as presented minus BK and j items second.

[1:26:17] Vice mayor Robinson.

[1:26:18] Yes commissioner.

[1:26:19] Causey yes.

[1:26:21] Commissioner Maldonado.

[1:26:22] Yes commissioner.

[1:26:22] Marriott yes.

[1:26:23] Mayor Tate.

[1:26:24] Yes The motion carries.

[1:26:27] OK we'll take them in order.

[1:26:30] Let's go.

[1:26:30] With consent for B. Authorize the city manager

[1:26:33] to exercise the first extension as outlined in the contract

[1:26:36] to renew the parklet agreement with show restaurant.

[1:26:39] I believe, Commissioner Robinson, you pulled it.

[1:26:41] I just had two questions.

[1:26:42] I didn't see the insurance certificate in there,

[1:26:45] so I wanted to make sure we did have an insurance certificate,

[1:26:49] because it's not in the packet.

[1:26:51] We'll follow up with that, but I think that they're there.

[1:26:55] Come to the microphone.

[1:26:59] I'm sorry.

[1:26:59] Sorry Mandy Edmonds, resident services director.

[1:27:02] Yes once we have this approved tonight,

[1:27:04] we'll follow through with get the remainder of what's

[1:27:06] required for the contract.

[1:27:07] And that will include the insurance.

[1:27:09] And it will also include hold harmless agreement.

[1:27:12] And then payments made to date.

[1:27:15] Are we current on all of the payments.

[1:27:17] I think it's basically the $1,500 a month.

[1:27:21] We're current through May we just recently

[1:27:23] invoiced for June and July.

[1:27:25] But we are current.

[1:27:27] Yes just wanted to make sure on that.

[1:27:31] There you go.

[1:27:32] Just because we had a public comment right now

[1:27:35] the minimum they pay is 1,500.

[1:27:38] So it escalates if their sales are generated more.

[1:27:42] So just wanted the commission to know that we are

[1:27:45] actually making more than 1,500 per month some months,

[1:27:48] not all months.

[1:27:49] I just wanted to make sure we got the $50,000 that

[1:27:53] the taxpayers paid to build that parklet back, and that's really

[1:27:58] my big concern.

[1:28:00] Yeah, because that was taxpayer funded.

[1:28:02] Yes, ma'am.

[1:28:03] Interest free.

[1:28:05] So to date, it's 52,994.43.

[1:28:09] And there was a little architectural stuff in there

[1:28:11] too.

[1:28:12] So no it's good.

[1:28:13] Yeah it's great that we're discussing that.

[1:28:15] Yeah OK.

[1:28:17] Thank you.

[1:28:18] And that was all I had for that.

[1:28:21] Thank you.

[1:28:23] I'll make a motion to authorize the city manager to exercise

[1:28:26] the first extension, as outlined in the contract

[1:28:28] to renew the parklet agreement with chill restaurant.

[1:28:31] I'll second.

[1:28:31]

[1:28:34] Commissioner Causey.

[1:28:36] Yes, Commissioner.

[1:28:37] Maldonado yes.

[1:28:38] Commissioner Marriott.

[1:28:39] Yes vice mayor.

[1:28:40] Robertson yes.

[1:28:41] Mayor Tate.

[1:28:42] Yes The motion carries.

[1:28:44] OK thank you.

[1:28:44] Next item 4 C consent for C authorize the city manager

[1:28:50] to execute the holiday decoration services agreement

[1:28:52] with Christmas designers.

[1:28:53] Florida holiday outdoor decor at a cost

[1:28:57] of $76,621 for December 2026.

[1:29:02] Holiday decorations.

[1:29:04] I just have one question.

[1:29:06] What is the difference.

[1:29:08] I mean, how many different polls.

[1:29:11] I'm just looking at the huge discrepancy between pole trim

[1:29:16] and tree wraps on pass-a-grille on gulfway

[1:29:19] in, prasugrel way for 22 blocks.

[1:29:23] There's 167 as a quantity, and then pull

[1:29:28] mounts on Gulf Boulevard from Quarry

[1:29:30] to the Bay way, which is many more blocks in 22 at 68.

[1:29:37] So the pole wraps are going to be what that candy

[1:29:40] cane looking Garland is.

[1:29:43] That's what's down in pass-a-grille

[1:29:45] there wrapped every pole.

[1:29:46] And then the pole decorations on Gulf Boulevard

[1:29:48] are the actual lighted pole decorations that you see.

[1:29:52] So there are two different types of decorations.

[1:29:54] Does that answer your so well.

[1:29:57] It's two different types.

[1:29:59] I mean there's just a different quantity amount.

[1:30:01] It just seems a little odd for what we've got here.

[1:30:06] I mean, are we talking both sides of the street.

[1:30:10] So we're talking what, 44 blocks.

[1:30:12] If I say from first to 22nd and first to 20 and we have Gulf

[1:30:17] and we have pass-a-grille way.

[1:30:18] So we're talking basically right.

[1:30:21] But still that's a huge discrepancy in the number.

[1:30:26] It is.

[1:30:27] And I don't know if I necessarily

[1:30:28] have a justification for it other than that was what

[1:30:30] was written into the contract.

[1:30:32] Well, we've done it every year.

[1:30:33] Yeah every year it's been like that.

[1:30:35] I just find it that.

[1:30:39] Pass-a-grille does it look more Christmassy than the rest of us.

[1:30:44] I wouldn't say that it looks more Christmassy than the rest,

[1:30:46] but I would say that there's a reason they

[1:30:49] get more than Gulf Boulevard.

[1:30:52] I think it's because they have all the palm trees.

[1:30:53] Yeah, they do.

[1:30:54] Line of palm trees.

[1:30:55] OK I think there's more poles to decorate in that chunk

[1:30:58] than there is.

[1:31:01] Or I mean, maybe there's not more poles overall,

[1:31:04] but we've got a lot of Poles on where

[1:31:08] we are getting rid of a few of them on the undergrounding.

[1:31:12] I think the cost is even though there's more polls and I can.

[1:31:17] Maybe we need to follow up, but the lighting on golf

[1:31:20] are the actual pretty Christmas trees and the lights that are.

[1:31:25] The last year, they were the Dolphins

[1:31:27] jumping through the Christmas wreaths or whatever we had.

[1:31:31] Those are only going golf.

[1:31:32] Then when you get to pass-a-grille they only

[1:31:34] get the tree wrap, not lighted, not lighted.

[1:31:38] So we have lighted decorations on golf

[1:31:40] and we have just tree wrap and pass-a-grille.

[1:31:44] Just wanted to know what the difference was.

[1:31:47]

[1:31:51] I almost feel like we should have some continuity.

[1:31:54] As when you go from the bottom of the city

[1:31:58] to the North end of the city on that road.

[1:32:02] And I mean, I would almost try to make it all look the same.

[1:32:07] Do we have power.

[1:32:08] Is that our problem.

[1:32:09] I'm sorry.

[1:32:09] Power power.

[1:32:10] Yeah we do have issues with.

[1:32:13] Some of the poles are energized, some of them are not.

[1:32:16] As far as the electrical that we do plug into.

[1:32:18] And we are working with Duke right now on a lighting survey

[1:32:21] and trying to correct some of the deficiencies

[1:32:25] that may be South of 55th avenue to the bayway.

[1:32:31] Some of those poles, the city does not currently pay

[1:32:34] for the electrical, so that's why there's some limited

[1:32:37] decorations heading from 55th South to the bayway,

[1:32:40] whereas there's a heavier influx of decorations

[1:32:43] North of the 55th Avenue.

[1:32:45] So we are working actively with Duke to correct that.

[1:32:47]

[1:32:52] So yeah.

[1:32:53] Thank you.

[1:32:54] So a couple questions and also a point of clarification.

[1:32:56] They're not Christmassy.

[1:32:58] They're non-secular.

[1:33:00] That's to address the zombies on next door and stuff

[1:33:03] that keep bringing that up.

[1:33:05] Holiday and their holiday decorations right by design.

[1:33:10] And we're never going to get right.

[1:33:11] Last year we got beat up because we did

[1:33:14] Dolphins and Maritime themes.

[1:33:17] This year I'm hearing complaints about Garland.

[1:33:20] Folks are very concerned about the Garland,

[1:33:22] and the wraps are Garland, and they're

[1:33:26] in the area where most folks are complaining about that.

[1:33:28] So my question, first of all, is because it's on County roads,

[1:33:33] why isn't County pain or contributing towards this.

[1:33:39] State roads.

[1:33:40] State roads.

[1:33:41] State roads.

[1:33:42] Sorry instead of the city, right.

[1:33:46] I mean, it's their road.

[1:33:48] It's their responsibility.

[1:33:51] And then the other thing is, should we do it.

[1:33:56] We're in a financial situation where

[1:33:58] we're looking at things very, very hard,

[1:34:02] very difficult decisions.

[1:34:04] Do the complaints outweigh the folks that are in favor of this.

[1:34:10] The County or the State Road issue.

[1:34:12] I don't think that we've ever really reviewed

[1:34:15] that or looked into that.

[1:34:16] So that's something that we can definitely look into and review

[1:34:19] as far as the should I'm going to leave that decision up to you

[1:34:22] all.

[1:34:23] It's a discussion for the Commission, right.

[1:34:25] I mean, it's no soup for you.

[1:34:27] I mean.

[1:34:30] Folks complain enough about it, and they

[1:34:33] really should consider whether or not we continue to do this.

[1:34:37]

[1:34:40] I liked last year's decorations, and I will just

[1:34:45] say that there were a nice change up from everything

[1:34:49] that we've done.

[1:34:50] So I hope you didn't take a lot of heat on that.

[1:34:53] We took some.

[1:34:54] Well, you took it well state owned road.

[1:35:02] And I think that's an interesting take on it.

[1:35:04] That's obviously the entire Gulf Boulevard.

[1:35:07] All that is state owned stuff.

[1:35:09] Interesting to see what they do.

[1:35:12] Does I would ask how do we compare with other beaches.

[1:35:16] Is that just every beach suffering with the state,

[1:35:19] has us doing the work or is there something

[1:35:22] unique about ST Pete Beach.

[1:35:23] I would just ask you to double check into that for me.

[1:35:26] And then I would just comment.

[1:35:28] I mean, I understand budget constraints

[1:35:32] and I think we should maybe look for opportunities to be more

[1:35:35] effective and more efficient.

[1:35:36] But I think if we went with 0, we

[1:35:39] would be a very dreary town where everybody's

[1:35:42] trying to run every 10 lights.

[1:35:44] I'm just saying the should we do it

[1:35:48] I think yes, I think it would cost us maybe

[1:35:49] a different dialogue, but.

[1:35:52] And then is there a way to get other funding

[1:35:55] associated with it.

[1:35:57] I think all interesting.

[1:35:58] I don't know that that's going to get solved this evening.

[1:36:02] Yeah I'm kind of seeing the handshake.

[1:36:03] I knew it, I knew the answer before I asked it.

[1:36:05] For what it's worth.

[1:36:06] Yeah, I'm torn on it.

[1:36:11] I clearly we're not going to get anything in time between now

[1:36:14] and December for the state to come in

[1:36:15] and say, yes, we're going to go ahead and subsidize.

[1:36:17] Maybe that's a future conversation for next year

[1:36:20] or something like that.

[1:36:21] Give us time to really delve into it.

[1:36:23] And the question is, this year, I personally think

[1:36:26] I don't want to see it go to 0.

[1:36:28] And so, I think that would be as much as people might think,

[1:36:32] the comments on the other things, I think going to 0

[1:36:34] would get far more comments than the reverse.

[1:36:36] We should ask that at the road shows you should.

[1:36:41] You should have one too.

[1:36:43] We got tomorrow's road show left to maybe get a little feedback.

[1:36:47] I will just add to the contract does expire 2027.

[1:36:51] So it is an opportune time to take a look

[1:36:53] at it, maybe even for next year for before we

[1:36:55] go out and rebid this.

[1:36:57] So it runs through 20 through Christmas 2027.

[1:37:00] It doesn't know it expires prior I want to say

[1:37:04] it expires prior to September 2027,

[1:37:07] so we would have to go out to bid prior to our last year

[1:37:09] on this contract, and we can revisit

[1:37:11] this and discuss subsidies and all that fun stuff next year.

[1:37:15] Theoretically but the 75,000 number is how did

[1:37:20] we come up with that number.

[1:37:22] That was what was in the bid.

[1:37:23] So that was the winning.

[1:37:25] OK yeah 250 per gallon.

[1:37:27] So we told them what we wanted and they said

[1:37:30] this is how much it will cost.

[1:37:32] I believe we identified the polls

[1:37:33] that we had available in the areas

[1:37:36] that we wanted to have decorated.

[1:37:37] And when we came back with the scope of work and everything,

[1:37:40] the proposal dictated where we were going

[1:37:42] to place some of these lights.

[1:37:43] So it was identified in the scope.

[1:37:48] So now Garland is doesn't really require lights, I presume.

[1:37:54] No and.

[1:37:57] All right.

[1:38:01] I think we are beyond the line not go.

[1:38:05] My point was, I just want people to know that this is

[1:38:07] a thing that the city has done.

[1:38:10] That we are highly supportive of.

[1:38:12] It does come at a cost, but we're struggling.

[1:38:16] So I agree with the mayor's comment

[1:38:18] that we need to look at other funding sources

[1:38:22] and that we'll have to reconsider it next year.

[1:38:27] So yeah, I'm fine.

[1:38:28] I mean, I just wanted to throw that grenade

[1:38:31] out there and see who it hits.

[1:38:35] Yeah it landed.

[1:38:37] Yeah good job.

[1:38:38] Yeah all right.

[1:38:39] I didn't pull the pin, though.

[1:38:40] Yeah listen, I will say this late in the season,

[1:38:43] I'm sure that they've got many municipalities

[1:38:45] that they deal with.

[1:38:46] So I don't think we're going to get a lot of changes.

[1:38:48] It's either go or no go.

[1:38:49] And I would personally have the mindset go because I don't want

[1:38:52] to see a no declaration here.

[1:38:55] I will say if our contract's up before next Christmas,

[1:38:57] we've got opportunities to talk about, what type of lighting,

[1:39:01] which polls subsidies and.

[1:39:04] And I also just while we're at the dialogue,

[1:39:06] I've had some comments about the plastic use inside

[1:39:10] of those things as well, in addition

[1:39:12] to some of the other comments.

[1:39:14] And, and maybe there's an alternative

[1:39:16] to just go with something that's theoretically,

[1:39:19] just make sure that we're being careful

[1:39:20] with our choice of materials if as we go

[1:39:23] to renegotiate this next year.

[1:39:27] Noted thank you.

[1:39:27] So with that, is there a motion.

[1:39:32] I move to authorize the city manager

[1:39:33] to execute the holiday decoration

[1:39:35] services agreement I second.

[1:39:40] Commissioner Maldonado.

[1:39:41] Yes commissioner.

[1:39:42] Marriott yes.

[1:39:43] Vice mayor.

[1:39:44] Robinson yes, Commissioner.

[1:39:46] Yes mayor.

[1:39:47] Tate yes.

[1:39:48] The motion carries.

[1:39:50] OK consent item j authorize the city manager

[1:39:54] to execute an Amendment to the agreement with hydro

[1:39:56] clean, LLC to establish annual contract

[1:39:59] expenditures consistent with the adopted city budget.

[1:40:02] I just wanted to point out that the agenda

[1:40:05] report calls it a concrete, brick and mortar repair.

[1:40:11] Good evening.

[1:40:12] Commissioner mayors.

[1:40:13] Camden Mills, public services director.

[1:40:15] Yes thank you for pointing out that air for the record,

[1:40:18] the concrete, brick and mortar.

[1:40:21] In the summary of issue.

[1:40:22] And the agenda report should actually

[1:40:24] read stormwater inspection and cleaning.

[1:40:27] So I apologize for that error and I'll do

[1:40:29] a better job of my oversight.

[1:40:30] It was a reason for me to get you up here too.

[1:40:34] So can you give us an update on the current status of how

[1:40:38] many miles we've done so far.

[1:40:42] I don't have those numbers in front of me, unfortunately,

[1:40:45] but I know we're over.

[1:40:46] Around 60% I believe, total Citywide in the stormwater

[1:40:50] cleaning portion of it.

[1:40:52] So they are making some pretty good headway.

[1:40:54] So we're about nine miles in out of 17 or something like that.

[1:40:58] OK a bulk of what's slowing them down now is just the tides.

[1:41:04] So they're getting the Inland portions where they can.

[1:41:07] And then some more of the outskirts outfalls

[1:41:09] will be as we get to the winter and the tides

[1:41:12] are lower during the day.

[1:41:13] OK great.

[1:41:15] Thank you.

[1:41:16] Real quick.

[1:41:17] I'm sorry, I apologize.

[1:41:19] You said storms are about 60% What about the waste.

[1:41:24] The wastewater is much further along.

[1:41:27] So the main line pipes of wastewater is about 97%

[1:41:32] The only sections that are left are

[1:41:34] in the Don Cesar neighborhood.

[1:41:36] So there's some areas there where

[1:41:37] the sanitary sewer is in the back

[1:41:39] of lots rather than the front.

[1:41:40] So we're going door to door knocking on people's homes,

[1:41:44] especially in the areas where we don't

[1:41:45] have public access easements and try to identify that.

[1:41:48] So that's really the last piece on the wastewater.

[1:41:51] The camera inspections and the evaluation is following behind.

[1:41:56] But at least the cleaning up of it is moving well ahead.

[1:41:59] And to be clear, I just want to make sure not falling

[1:42:01] behind but following behind.

[1:42:03] Following behind.

[1:42:04] Correct gotcha.

[1:42:04] Make sure.

[1:42:05] Thank you for that.

[1:42:07] Thank you.

[1:42:08] Yeah OK.

[1:42:08] Thank you.

[1:42:09] Unless there's other questions.

[1:42:10] Is there a motion.

[1:42:13] Make a motion to authorize the city

[1:42:15] manager to execute an Amendment to the agreement with hydro

[1:42:18] clean, LLC.

[1:42:19] To establish annual contract expenditures consistent

[1:42:23] with the adopted city budget.

[1:42:25] Second commissioner.

[1:42:27] Marriott yes, Vice Mayor Robertson.

[1:42:30] Yes, Commissioner.

[1:42:31] Yes commissioner.

[1:42:32] Maldonado yes.

[1:42:33] And Mayor Tate.

[1:42:34] Yes The motion carries.

[1:42:37] OK thank you very much.

[1:42:39] I believe we're on to the ordinances.

[1:42:41] City attorney, acting city attorney.

[1:42:43] I'm not sure how to address you, I apologize.

[1:42:47] Will you please read the ordinance title.

[1:42:48] All right.

[1:42:50] Yeah this is a first reading of ordinance 2024 2616.

[1:42:54] 16 there is no.

[1:42:56] This is, as I said, first reading.

[1:42:57] There is no presentation.

[1:42:59] Staff is here for questions.

[1:43:01] And I'll read the ordinance now.

[1:43:03] An ordinance of the city of ST Pete Beach, Florida,

[1:43:06] amending city code Appendix A fee schedule providing

[1:43:10] for amendments to city wastewater fees

[1:43:13] and wastewater connection fees.

[1:43:15] Providing for repeal of ordinances or parts

[1:43:18] of ordinances in conflict herewith

[1:43:20] to the extent of such conflict.

[1:43:23] Providing for codification conflicts,

[1:43:25] severability, correction of scrivener's

[1:43:27] error, construction, publication,

[1:43:30] and an effective date.

[1:43:32] Thank you very much.

[1:43:34] I think I heard you say there's not a staff report.

[1:43:36] I think is what I heard.

[1:43:37] Any audience comments.

[1:43:40] Yes Holly Noonan.

[1:43:41]

[1:43:55] Hello, my name is Holly Noonan.

[1:43:57] I live at 1378 oak forest Boulevard in Seminole, Florida.

[1:44:01] I'm a student in the public policy and administration

[1:44:04] program at ST. Petersburg College,

[1:44:06] and I am here to show my support for ordinance 2024 2616.

[1:44:10] Balancing the need to generate more revenue while keeping it

[1:44:13] fair for residents is a persistent challenge

[1:44:15] for local governments.

[1:44:16] But I believe the proposed ordinance accomplishes that.

[1:44:19] Because the wastewater fund is an enterprise fund,

[1:44:22] it is important that user fees cover

[1:44:23] operating costs as well as existing debt and infrastructure

[1:44:26] improvements.

[1:44:27] Now, the current rate structure does not

[1:44:29] bring in enough to fully cover those obligations.

[1:44:32] This issue is expected to become more significant over time,

[1:44:35] with rising operating costs, limited customer growth,

[1:44:37] and necessary capital improvements increasing

[1:44:40] debt service requirements.

[1:44:42] The wastewater fund's budget was balanced this year,

[1:44:44] but that includes grants and general fund transfers.

[1:44:47] Continued reliance on these sources

[1:44:49] could potentially impact bond ratings

[1:44:50] and actually increase the cost of borrowing

[1:44:52] for future projects.

[1:44:54] I believe it is a responsible choice to move on this issue,

[1:44:57] because keeping fees below what is necessary

[1:44:59] now can shift a larger financial burden onto future residents

[1:45:02] and businesses.

[1:45:03] Improvements to aging infrastructure

[1:45:05] do not become less expensive with time.

[1:45:08] Despite the challenges and increased costs associated

[1:45:10] with being a barrier island, the proposed sewer

[1:45:13] rates for the first year are still in line

[1:45:14] with surrounding cities.

[1:45:16] This suggests that the initial increase

[1:45:18] is reasonable and not excessively

[1:45:19] burdensome from for ratepayers.

[1:45:22] The restructure is consistent with the public finance

[1:45:24] principle of cost causation, where rates

[1:45:26] reflect the demands customers place

[1:45:28] on the system using meter size.

[1:45:30] As part of that calculation is a common utility practice,

[1:45:33] and it creates a more equitable way to distribute

[1:45:35] costs among users.

[1:45:37] Because small businesses are an important part

[1:45:39] of ST Pete Beach's character and economic resilience.

[1:45:42] I would urge the city to monitor and evaluate how the rate

[1:45:45] adjustments affect them.

[1:45:46] This would allow the city to identify

[1:45:48] any unintended impacts before future adjustments take place.

[1:45:51] Communication will also be important.

[1:45:53] Best practices include early outreach using plain language

[1:45:56] through multiple channels.

[1:45:58] This could include mailed notices or Bill inserts, email

[1:46:01] updates, or a page on the city's website explaining the new rate

[1:46:05] structure and potentially how businesses

[1:46:07] can go about getting their meters evaluated and resized.

[1:46:11] I believe this ordinance.

[1:46:12] This ordinance is a fair and responsible step forward.

[1:46:15] Thank you for your time.

[1:46:16] Thank you.

[1:46:18] Very impressive.

[1:46:19] Thank you very much.

[1:46:22] Other audience comments, please.

[1:46:23] I have no further audience comments.

[1:46:25] Thank you so much.

[1:46:27] That was quite interesting.

[1:46:30] And so since we don't have a staff report,

[1:46:32] we don't have any questions or comments unless there's

[1:46:35] commissioner comments.

[1:46:37] Is there a motion.

[1:46:38] Make the motion to adopt ordinance 202616.

[1:46:43] I'll Second Vice mayor Robinson.

[1:46:47] Yes commissioner.

[1:46:48] Yes, Commissioner.

[1:46:49] Maldonado yes, Commissioner.

[1:46:51] Marriott yes, Mayor.

[1:46:52] Tate yes.

[1:46:53] The motion carries.

[1:46:55] OK thank you.

[1:46:55] We're on to ordinance item 5 B, first reading ordinance 2024 26,

[1:47:01] reclaim water fees.

[1:47:02] City attorney, please.

[1:47:04] This is similar.

[1:47:05] No presentation, but staff is here for questions.

[1:47:10] An ordinance of the city of ST Pete Beach, Florida.

[1:47:12] Amending city code, Appendix A fee

[1:47:15] schedule providing for amendments to city

[1:47:17] reclaimed water system fees.

[1:47:20] Providing for repeal of ordinances or parts

[1:47:22] of ordinances in conflict herewith

[1:47:24] to the extent of such conflict.

[1:47:26] Providing for codification, conflict,

[1:47:28] severability, correction of scrivener's

[1:47:31] error, construction, publication,

[1:47:33] and an effective date.

[1:47:35] OK thank you.

[1:47:36] I understand there's no report.

[1:47:37] So ordinance comments I have no ordinance comments on this item.

[1:47:40] Any commissioner questions of the city manager.

[1:47:43] Anybody else.

[1:47:45] All right.

[1:47:45] Is there a motion then.

[1:47:46] I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance

[1:47:48] 2024 26 reclaimed water fees.

[1:47:53] I'll second.

[1:47:55] Commissioner Causey.

[1:47:56] Yes, Commissioner.

[1:47:57] Maldonado yes.

[1:47:58] Commissioner Marriott.

[1:47:59] Yes vice mayor.

[1:48:00] Robertson yes.

[1:48:01] Mayor Tate.

[1:48:02] Yes The motion carries.

[1:48:06] Next, we're on to items for discussion.

[1:48:10] And I believe the only one that I

[1:48:12] captured was mothballs on the beach

[1:48:15] for Commissioner Maldonado.

[1:48:16] Yeah so, first and foremost, let me just say that everyone is

[1:48:20] innocent until proven guilty.

[1:48:22] I won't get into the specifics, but the city,

[1:48:27] after or upon hearing that mothballs

[1:48:29] were placed behind some hotels.

[1:48:33] But at a very strong statement, we

[1:48:35] said that there was 0 tolerance, that we would do everything

[1:48:39] within our power to find the person or persons responsible,

[1:48:42] and that they would be held accountable.

[1:48:46] So my.

[1:48:47]

[1:48:49] Not question but necessarily my input to the commission

[1:48:52] would be that we get ahead of that we work through

[1:48:55] our attorneys with the state attorney's office, that we

[1:48:59] ensure that as victims, the city being a victim,

[1:49:02] that we present our position to the state attorney

[1:49:05] and that we ask, that we are considered within that.

[1:49:09] I personally would push for the maximum sentence

[1:49:12] if these persons are found guilty, that they're held

[1:49:16] accountable to the highest standards,

[1:49:18] and then that we also prepare sanctions in the event

[1:49:22] that the businesses or the persons are at fault

[1:49:27] or found guilty.

[1:49:28] So in this case, depending on the severity and the outcome,

[1:49:33] there could be some very, very stiff sentences.

[1:49:36] And in the city I believe can take additional steps.

[1:49:39] This would be for the attorneys to guide us.

[1:49:42] But this has separate to do with the charges that they're facing.

[1:49:46] I do think that as victims, characterizing the city

[1:49:49] as the victim, that we're due restitution

[1:49:52] and that we also have the power in some cases

[1:49:54] to pull licenses, specifically liquor licenses,

[1:49:58] depending on the outcome of this.

[1:50:00] And that's where I stand with this.

[1:50:02] I believe very firmly that if found guilty, that these persons

[1:50:06] should be held ultimately responsible to the extent

[1:50:10] that we can and that the city needs to get ahead of this,

[1:50:14] we can't wait for the state attorney

[1:50:15] to make some kind of Deal or not hear our input.

[1:50:19] So I wanted to put that out there.

[1:50:21] I'm getting a lot of input from residents who feel passionately

[1:50:24] and just as strong about this as we do as I do,

[1:50:28] I should say not only my district, but I do.

[1:50:30] Personally I think that there are things that we can do.

[1:50:34] I know that the state attorney is working

[1:50:36] diligently to look at this.

[1:50:38] It was a pretty big case for the FWC.

[1:50:40] I applaud them for their efforts.

[1:50:43] They went above and beyond to try to find the evidence.

[1:50:45] Now it's just a matter of proving what they suspect.

[1:50:49] So that's what I wanted to discuss.

[1:50:50] Thank you.

[1:50:51]

[1:50:55] And I wonder if business licenses

[1:50:57] would be fit into that concept.

[1:51:00] Everything's on the table.

[1:51:03] I would agree with you on holding them to as we've said,

[1:51:08] hold them to the highest level that we can.

[1:51:10] If that includes pulling a liquor license

[1:51:13] and anything on the beach.

[1:51:15] We're just so lucky that a small child didn't eat one of those.

[1:51:23] I just let alone the wildlife.

[1:51:26] That's bad enough.

[1:51:27] But for the rest of the residents and children,

[1:51:33] wildlife, anything.

[1:51:35] So I agree with you on that wholeheartedly.

[1:51:39]

[1:51:41] Is the city involved in issuing liquor licenses.

[1:51:45] The liquor license may be something

[1:51:47] that is governed by the state since the city

[1:51:50] doesn't issue the license.

[1:51:52] It does come from the state.

[1:51:54] The only thing we could do would be as part of a victim impact

[1:51:58] statement that we present to the state attorney,

[1:52:00] or that we also present to the court.

[1:52:03] If there's that opportunity, it could be something that could

[1:52:07] be mentioned or asked for.

[1:52:09] So otherwise you have to look at your own licenses and things

[1:52:14] that you bestow on somebody cabana

[1:52:19] service, whatever that is.

[1:52:20] So that would be one.

[1:52:21] Listen I agree, I would love to hear some legal opinion.

[1:52:25] I know that some of the accused in this situation, at least one

[1:52:30] of the accused is also in other issues with us.

[1:52:33] So I'm careful how far we have open dialogues, given

[1:52:35] that there's other open cases.

[1:52:37] As I understand IT, legal cases in these situations.

[1:52:40] Unaffiliated with what.

[1:52:41] With mothballs on the beach.

[1:52:42] But that said, as victims, I think we should make sure

[1:52:48] that we understand what our rights are

[1:52:50] and the full extent that we could ask of the state's

[1:52:54] attorney, the state's office.

[1:52:56] So I would ask that we just itemize what are our options

[1:52:59] here and what do we have on the table

[1:53:01] that we could use as potential grievances,

[1:53:04] if you will, and remedies that we would recommend to the state

[1:53:07] attorneys in this situation, you could ask for costs if you had

[1:53:10] any of your staff involved in the cleanup

[1:53:13] or in the investigation, and there was a cost to the city,

[1:53:17] you can ask for restitution.

[1:53:19] I love it, rather than this forum, can we ask that we just

[1:53:22] maybe itemize something that we could just bring back

[1:53:26] and distribute to at least the commission

[1:53:27] or whoever it needs to go that says,

[1:53:29] here's our potential avenues of remediation

[1:53:33] given this situation.

[1:53:34] OK yeah.

[1:53:36] I love it.

[1:53:37]

[1:53:42] Thank you.

[1:53:44] I don't have any other items for discussion,

[1:53:46] so I think we have our commission

[1:53:52] reports, our city clerk.

[1:53:53] I'll start with you, please.

[1:53:55] I have nothing to report this evening.

[1:53:56] OK city manager, anything to report.

[1:53:58] Nothing to report MS city attorney.

[1:54:01] Nothing OK.

[1:54:02] Commissioner Maldonado.

[1:54:03] Yeah so, again, to the folks that attended

[1:54:06] our workshop on the budget.

[1:54:09] Well attended.

[1:54:09] Thank you so much to the staff, the mayor,

[1:54:11] everyone, for setting that up.

[1:54:13] A lot of great dialogue and certainly some very informative

[1:54:19] answers there.

[1:54:20] Hard questions.

[1:54:22] I got an email just to talk about

[1:54:26] some hurricane recovery grants for storm related

[1:54:28] expenses or debts.

[1:54:30] Apparently the government gave Pinellas County $813 million

[1:54:35] worth of grants that are still out there for folks that

[1:54:37] are still trying to recover.

[1:54:39] So if you haven't received that, go to recover pinellas.gov

[1:54:43] to get information.

[1:54:44] And this is also for small businesses.

[1:54:47] So please take advantage of that.

[1:54:48] The more people that apply, the more

[1:54:51] likelihood that people in our city

[1:54:52] will get some kind of relief.

[1:54:53] So thank you.

[1:54:56] Thank you sir.

[1:54:57] Commissioner Causey.

[1:55:00] I do have a few items I wanted to discuss.

[1:55:03] I have received reports of three damaged seawalls

[1:55:08] in District three, but I don't really have

[1:55:12] a way to see these things, so.

[1:55:18] Is there a process in place.

[1:55:20] I'm wondering where the city can check

[1:55:23] on the status of the seawall.

[1:55:24] And also, I would say that a couple of them

[1:55:29] were severe enough to where there's the soil

[1:55:33] is disappearing into the canal.

[1:55:37] And so I think this is a notice for the people who

[1:55:42] have these seawalls, but also for the city to possibly look

[1:55:48] into these.

[1:55:49] And I'll move on to Publix.

[1:55:52] I ask a quick just on that, are you talking

[1:55:54] public or private seawalls?

[1:55:55] Private seawalls.

[1:55:57] Thank you.

[1:55:57] Yeah, that's a good clarification.

[1:55:59] Private seawalls.

[1:56:00] So for example, were to use SeeClickFix, I don't really

[1:56:06] know that there's I can't tell from the street,

[1:56:09] whether this is the case or not.

[1:56:11] So it seems like there would be a process for this.

[1:56:16] So Publix, I keep getting questions about Publix.

[1:56:19] And what I feel like this is one of the biggest problems

[1:56:22] that we have in our city.

[1:56:23] Perceived pain point.

[1:56:25] And I don't feel like we are keeping everyone up

[1:56:28] to date enough on I almost feel like we

[1:56:32] need to have a Publix report every single commission meeting.

[1:56:37] So I'm sure things don't change that quickly.

[1:56:39] But this is a big deal for us.

[1:56:44] And so I would ask that we think about the keeping

[1:56:47] the public more notified about our negotiating

[1:56:51] or the status of Publix.

[1:56:55] This week, I wanted to say that our new community action

[1:56:58] group, the beautification community action group,

[1:57:02] launched and it was well attended.

[1:57:04] We had seven residents show up for the meeting on that

[1:57:07] and the initial meeting.

[1:57:09] They're excited about addressing things from parks to signs

[1:57:13] to decorations and helping out with any kind of beautification

[1:57:19] projects, and also mentioned the idea of forming a nonprofit so

[1:57:23] that if the city is not going to repair things,

[1:57:27] maybe next year due to budget constraints.

[1:57:29] Well, then we might reach out and ask for donations.

[1:57:33] So that wanted to let everyone know that is up and running now.

[1:57:38] This week also.

[1:57:43] Highlight that I am still doing my neighborhood meetings

[1:57:46] on Mondays and so I'm in.

[1:57:49] I start in the afternoon at the Don Cesar neighborhood park,

[1:57:53] and then I move up to Bella vista and finish off in Lido.

[1:57:57] So every Monday afternoon, basically between 3:30 and 6.

[1:58:02] In those three locations.

[1:58:03] And so I'll have people show up and

[1:58:05] they have a chance to ask questions

[1:58:07] and I can talk to them.

[1:58:08] Sometimes if you want to talk to me

[1:58:10] you can schedule into that time slot as well.

[1:58:13] That's all I've got.

[1:58:15] Thank you sir Mr. Robinson.

[1:58:17] Just a reminder that tomorrow night is the district two.

[1:58:22] And anybody else who wants to come.

[1:58:23] If you missed one, come on to the budget

[1:58:26] road show at the library 5:30 to 7:00 PM tomorrow night.

[1:58:32] Also, I do my library hours typically first Monday,

[1:58:37] but first Monday next month.

[1:58:39] Being Labor Day, it will be the second Monday of the month,

[1:58:42] so the 14th of September from 5 to 545 at the library as well.

[1:58:50] Thank you, Mr. mayor.

[1:58:52] Thank you.

[1:58:53] I just want to congratulate the helm

[1:58:56] on reopening in their new space in District 1.

[1:58:59] I know everybody is super excited about their bigger space

[1:59:03] and longer hours.

[1:59:04] And so if you haven't been, go have dinner at the helm.

[1:59:06] It's fantastic.

[1:59:08] Yeah and that's it.

[1:59:10] Thank you.

[1:59:12] Impromptu I would say we have many, many great restaurants.

[1:59:15] The helm being one of them.

[1:59:16] And congratulations to the helm family.

[1:59:20] I see a lot of this is impromptu so I apologize.

[1:59:23] I see a lot of social aspects of what great things make ST Pete

[1:59:28] Beach wonderful, and our great restaurants

[1:59:29] and small businesses, not only shopping in the theater

[1:59:32] and all kind of things.

[1:59:33] So please support our businesses as you can.

[1:59:36] We love them and we appreciate them.

[1:59:39] Back on to what I did actually have on my agenda here.

[1:59:42] Thank you to all the residents and number,

[1:59:45] and also to the city staff and my fellow commissioners

[1:59:48] who've been attending the budget road shows.

[1:59:51] We're now three out of 4 down.

[1:59:54] Very good discussion, very lively feedback, very good

[1:59:59] responses from our residents and we sincerely appreciate it.

[2:00:04] I do want to say I've joined all three.

[2:00:06] I've had a kind of a preamble, opening statement.

[2:00:10] I am, I say unfortunately for tomorrow's meeting,

[2:00:13] but not unfortunately for me.

[2:00:14] I'm heading on PTO tomorrow, so I

[2:00:17] will be out of town for tomorrow's evening

[2:00:19] tomorrow evening's event.

[2:00:20] So my understanding city manager's,

[2:00:23] we might be able to have a video that shows maybe

[2:00:26] a recent recording that I did kind of promoting

[2:00:28] these road show events.

[2:00:30] Anyways and with apologies that I won't be able to make it,

[2:00:33] but I will be watching intently the results of not only the road

[2:00:37] show and the notes that come out of it,

[2:00:39] but the survey results accordingly.

[2:00:44] And with that, I think that was it for me.

[2:00:47] Thank you.

[2:00:48] There being no further business, this meeting is adjourned.

[2:00:52]

City Commission Meeting

Agenda

Transcript