[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.
[1:41:15] 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]