2026-10-08 - City Council

Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken well. District one hopefully Curtis. District 2 when the governor. District 3 Mike Harding its

strict for and Council chair Lisette can away. District 5 ever think Sanders. Gina Driscoll. Were you given Stu year and and Council vice chair reaching Floyd. Good afternoon, everyone and welcome to

the Oct. 8th twenty-twenty 6 City Council meeting for a cup I can please have a roll call amber here are doing it and what's here. Sanders. This goal. They were going to have our indication given by

reverend j c presion the second of the inter denominational manassero Lee tense. Then please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance if you complete ban good afternoon. Got of the rain in a raise

thunder and the Lightning. Got it today and tomorrow remind us to be grateful for the things we can't control. GOD of administration and Council government it's citizens remind us of the

responsibility we have we can't control. We are grateful for a legislative body that includes a moment to recognize faith before movements of legislation. We pray that you got these liberation of

clarity courage creativity in conviction. We pray GOD that you continue to protect us from storms and hurricanes. Inflation crime. And you keep our first responders safe. The germ it of today that you

are pleased with what has taken place on behalf of all residents. India. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the night states of America and 2 of them. It is one nation. MAY you MAY be seated. Thank

you reverend for the beautiful invocation. Members we have agenda before us on today in a motion picture. We have a motion a second clerk if you can open the machine for boating council members please

enter your votes seeing that present council members voted clerk please tally announced vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with council member driskell being

absent. Thank you. Clerk are ther speaker chauvin form. Yes, there is a please read the rules. If you wish to address city Council a subject of the public hearing. Additional items listed on the

agenda please sign up with the clerk. Only the individuals wishing to speak the Senate open sheet. Only city residents owns the property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak. All

issues discussed under open form must be limited to issues related to the city of Saint Pete's Rick government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda. You MAY only speak once during the open

form when the item comes up on the agenda. Applause is not permitted except in connection with an awards and presentations in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each

individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council through the zoom meeting you must use e riz Khan feature Benton in the zoom app

we're interest are 9 on your phone at the time the agenda items addressed what is your chance to speak you'll be unmuted asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments when

you have reached the 3 minute time limit. You will be muted. Andres hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation news, normal rules apply, including the 3

minute time limit and comments. The requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum if my public comment is disrupted by the violation

of the rules of decorum the chairs authorized to accept public comments. Alternate means including by email me we all get that company. Thank you. The first 2 speakers is worker plenary and Andy Hill.

He's going to either podium state your name and address for the record. We'll have 3 minutes to address Council. You go ahead and start. Good afternoon members of the City record flanary a senior at

safety high representing the civic engagement club. And today, I'm gonna talk a little bit more about flock cameras like we did last time we're here when I when I mention it like it was last time. It

was mostly about hypotheticals what what can happen with the misuse of flock cameras in our in our County and our city and today I'm here to talk about how that is no longer just ahead the

hypothetical and even within our County. This has taken place since last we on sep on Sept. 30th. To sheriff the sheriff of Seminole arrested too Pinellas County deputies accused of misusing law

enforcement databases. Their flock. One allegedly access information about a 17 year-old girl. Repeatedly showed up at her workplace workplace in at her high school. Another allegedly search law

enforcement databases, hundreds of times. Further I'm a teenage driver. I have to drive to school at to drop the work of prices are drive-thru drive to there's a lot of there's a lot of places to

drive. And every time I enter my car to drive, I'm tracked through the to the flock cameras and entered into the police database. No matter whether I'm doing something wrong or I'm just following all

the laws and enter into a police database every single time. And this raises a serious question. Watch it is to teenagers have their movements place into a government surveillance surveillance

database at all. After what just happened in our own County. I don't think that we should we should use flock cameras anymore, I don't think that the safeguards that we have placed work. Thank you.

Thank you. Good afternoon members of the City Council my name is Andy, hile I'm 14 years old and I'm a freshman representing safety high in our civic engagement club. When I heard about the 17 year-

old girl whose information was accessed by Pinellas County deputy I kept thinking about one thing who could be next. Could be me. My friends. My little sister. One of your daughters. I'm 14 years old

and I'm going to be driving in the city in a few years I go to school here I have friends here. I have a life here and I don't think I should have to wonder whether someone with access to a government

surveillance system could use information about an innocent minor like me. We've been told the flock has safeguards. But these like they have been only been they've only been told to placate the

public. Happened in our very own County. We cannot continue to blindly trust the so-called safeguards. We can't wait until something happens to me or another student my age to find out. Instead of

putting me and my friends privacy and safety at risk just to see whether the safeguards hold up. Please at the very least pass this technology until there is concrete proof that it is secure. Properly

monitored, it cannot be misused. The shouldn't have to be victims before my privacy matters. Thank you. Thank you. Texas. Speaker Sun., 2 speakers in last 2 speakers is Liam Oliver and Max we can.

Please go to either podium state your name address for the record. We'll have 2 minutes to address Council. Hello City Council on Oliver I live in Petersburg ago temperatures were time the PRESIDENT

Of our civic engagement club. And as you all have heard. We're really concerned especially about flock cameras, but especially concerning the 17 year-old girl whose information was accessed of these

databases and it's really important to point out that when questioned. His response was curiosity got the better of him. I'm 17 as well and I'm really concerned about the Petersburg sharing flock to

do with other law enforcement agencies and I think this Council should explain what access. Those agencies have and who is auditing their searches because another pointing to point out about this

whole thing is that the media actually had to a call to attention to these cases they weren't pointed out by the Police the way for an independent media source to reach out and tell them that so

obviously safeguards are not working. Florida law recognizes that children deserve special privacy protections, Florida statute, 5 oh 1.1 7, 3, 5, specifically restricts certain online companies from

collecting children's precise geolocation data and also the parent Bill of Rights protects privacy of minors as does privacy provision of Florida Constitution. I don't understand why does Florida

recognize the danger of collecting our children's real locations. Yet we allow funding surveillance system without publicly demonstrating how it protects minors and I have formally submitted a public

experience to the city clerk. Over email pdf format concerning the mayors and the City Council responsibility to respect Myers minors from surveillance abuses. I understand the city has no established

formal ethics grievance process for this kind of complaint, but I don't think that means that your ethical responsibility disappears and ask you to suspend this program until an independent review

determines whether its privacy safeguards actually work and I think we all deserve to be able to move around our city freely, the girl targeted by the deputy was 17 years old. I don't understand why

17 year-old should have to become a victim before we take these risks seriously thank you so much and I have a nice day. Good afternoon, Max McCann 2, 6, 4, 8, 3rd Avenue South. Some want to start by

thanking Council and the city. For issuing the pedestrian safety proclamation today, the sun issue that's Ferry near and dear to my heart and to the work that I do and next I want to ask that we

follow up this proclamation with real action and specifically better enforcement against reckless driving throughout the city and especially in our school zones. You all know we run this monthly bike

to school event that goes down 22th Street and some of y'all councilmember Floyd has joined us councilmember Givens has joined us a whole bunch of times thanks for that. And you're all invited to this

it's usually on the first Fri. Of every month if their school that day. But I'll tell you we see drivers acting reckless in school zones every time we do this and our law enforcement can only be out

there so much so we really need school zone safety cameras like a lot of other communities are using. Unlike flock cameras, they can't be used to store and track movement information on innocent

citizens, they're very targeted and they're a force multiplier for law enforcement Tampa's using them Hillsborough temple terrace is planning them Orlando Palm Beach County miami-dade County. Cape

coral. I la County Panama City Broward County. All these communities are using this technology to keep their kids safe and we are being left behind we've had calls with chief Holloway about this he

said he would have a pilot program up. In JANUARY of this year that didn't happen and I I don't know why we're not doing that. So that I think that would be a great next step for us, thanks again for

doing the proclamation today, thank you all about We do not the stickers. Thank you because open for move on to awards and presentations the 2 is the first presentation which is a fire prevention week

proclamation. I believe is going to be read by fire marshal in Womack who is here and for those that are here for that nation. The are welcome to join him at the podium. Good afternoon. Good afternoon

chair Council thank you for having us. Again this year. For 2026 proclamation, recognizing fire prevention awareness week. Buckley macean says whereas fires a serious public safety concern both

locally and nationally and homes are the locations where people are at the greatest risk from fire. Most of the electronics used in homes daily including smart phones tablets laptops power tools

e-bikes e-scooters and toys are powered by lithium ion batteries which if misused damaged or improperly charged can overheat start a fire or explode. And whereas the National fire protection

Association reports an increase in battery battery related fires, underscoring the need for public education on the safe use of lithium ion batteries. And whereas the way lithium-ion battery devices

are charged can make a difference in helping prevent home fires. Safe charging means making smart choices every time we plug in and whereas safe charging includes using the cord and charger that came

with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Charging on a hard flat surface watching for warning signs like devices that are very hot or start to swell unplugging when fully charged in

charging larger devices like e-bikes outside and away from exits and whereas Petersburg fire rescue remains dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fires to prevention safety education and community

outreach and whereas the 2026 fire prevention week theme charge into fire safety. Safe charging is a superpower serves to remind all residents that safe charging can help reduce the risk of fires in

homes and communities. Therefore I am on my behalf of can t Welsh mayor the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim the week of Oct. 4th through 10th, 2026 as our prevention awareness week. In our

city and urge all residents. To check their homes are fire hazards. You say practices and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of St. Petersburg fire rescue. Thank you for still

say it's cool to see you give the proclamation members idea that was I like the second I just want to ask questions so that we could get information sort of which I hope it's not putting you on the

spot. You know we have problems with people throwing away lithium batteries as well could you just give us some idea about how to get rid of your old lithium batteries if you want to do something like

that. Yeah, whatever you do don't from the guard. Yes, I've got one of my house that I've been like I got to get rid of this I'm not going into the government or the recycling had some significant

fires that recycling plants. Yeah last year related to improper disposal so. The easiest way is there's actually website battery network dot org. And you can locate where to dispose batteries anywhere

in the city using that website. That website is also linked included in the city's resources. So if you just simply go to the city's website. With the waste wizard I've been batteries you're going to

get the options to select and then it's going to take it to that that website show you all your drop-off locations that is also included in the city's Saint Pete collects app as well so. And I'll give

you a cheat code you can drop them off at any Home Depot Lowe's death for just that. Thank you very much for that. Councilmember given. Thank you chair and thank you so much chief assistant chief. All

of you for the work that you do to keep our community safe. I know last year around this time of year we campus Chow's part which is a high-risk area for home fires and specifically the goal was to

campus to motivate residents to install these 10 year lithium batteries for smoke alarms. Do we have any update on whether or not that's going to happen again this year have we done that already do we

plan to do that is that partnership with the Red Cross still there. Yeah, the partnership still in place that's a regular part of our activities I don't know when our next campus the schedule. But we

do do those a couple times a year. As far as the large campus, but we also have a a program that is operational every day of the year which is our home safe program where residents can make a request

either online or they call of a standard number 8, 9, 3, safe and schedule and a crew will go out and help walk through their home install smoke alarms in their needs so we're actually installing

alarms in the community throughout the year. In addition to those stand-alone canvassing event that's all some news and that number again was 8, 9, 3, safe direct thank you and I know chief you let me

know when the Knicks look forward to joining you all thank you so much and they are. Thank you chief. Thank you I will say I was curious. We have some young people here in the audience and all our

younger generations, they probably all have a leak that battery and arms length away from them. So I was wondering in terms of like education because you have like toys all the things that children

and kids around scooters you name it. What are we doing with schools to make sure they have fact sheets and all that so parents and everyone are aware of out the disposal and the dangers of lithium

batteries are. Community risk reduction team, public outreach team is extremely active in the school's good. And all of this is a regular part of our messaging if you're tied into our socials you're

going to see that regular messaging on our socials we're partnering with the psta for this month so their buses as well their info screens are going to have messaging on safe charging practices. So in

schools in the public eye we're trying to keep the message is for for his possible because it's it's everywhere it's everywhere everybody everybody at this point interacts with lithium-ion batteries

and and in themselves are not inherently unsafe as long as you. Paula good charging practices used to manufacture items. We recommend that you don't keep an item plugged in wants to and charging go

ahead and unplug it larger items I want to know we recommended charges outside of the home. The challenge in the city that we get questions a lot of apartments and condos is what I put my e-scooter I

don't have a garage on have anywhere outside the charge it. And there we would recommend that you only charge it when you're home right and then Winston charging you unplug it and when you go to sleep

at night where you can attend to it put it somewhere in the home where it's not where you sleep don't keep it in your bedroom and don't put it between your room and you're half of the press outside so

you know shutting it in a bathroom is a good idea if you got about the put it out about me. Some standard practices like that can protect against the risk associated with but bettors. Those are

helpful tips is there anything that you see often that we have uncovered today that you wish people would know about. Thank you and they should stop doing. Disposal things of that disposals a big one

okay. The disposal thing is a big piece an end and another big challenges, the prevents of of easy access to aftermarket Chargers and aftermarket batteries so I'm guilty of it myself write my cell

phone charger quits working I just go in and was on to find a pretty color I like and I buy it. Well for that the vice isn't perfectly calibrated with the calibration of the battery for when how far

to energize that when to stop energizing it. You can overcharged the device and you MAY not know in that moment that you damage the cells that then start a slow process that leads to another process,

a thermal runaway once that starts there's no stopping that battery from from initiating the firemen so the key is be disciplined about if you have to replace a charter for device replace it with the

original manufacturer equipment, better safe than sorry, you know if you can't find a the new charger then you know maybe in a new device or new toy and then keep those things out of places that you

sleep, don't don't want to charge on attended don't keep them, you know your tools in your garage or a week. We've seen quite a few fires were battery powered Phillips and right well bees you know

they're just left on charges in a garage right. So you know be disciplined about taking those items off the charges when they're all been charged. Thank you, but we made that mistake to rebut

aftermarket Chargers Allison you touch it it's hot where the phones Hawks. And you don't realize that's what's happening. So thank you for that council member driskell thank you thank you for reading

proclamation that was a treat and for this excellent information that you're sharing with us today and also how people can learn more. Folks with you I was just wondering if you would like to take a

moment to introduce and everyone said that they can properly be recognized by the room. I appreciate I do want to make sure we recognize the the effort that goes into prevention so I have with me or

fire rescue chief. Watts deputy chief presses koski administrative chief Travis can task us. Rescue chief Lindsey do to we have our we risk reduction folks in the back your lawn and Alexis and then

Samantha jerk him. We can't put any fires that are preventing without money. So should the us I later. Emergency manager embers well so. Also want to think to the rest of the team that's not here. Our

our primary mission at the Fire Department is to never have to come to your response so we never own another 9, 1, call again we're we're happy. So prevention is our primary mission and everybody

participates in that in the prevention division, we've got a team of fire codes inspectors get ready to expand that to 10 from 8. Thank you very much. Weve got fire plans examiners that review every

plan for commercial building the city to ensure its fire Cook complied and then go out and do field inspections to make sure it's being built according to that approved fire code compliant design weve

got fire investigators to get to root cause issues help identify things we need to focus on like battery fires weve got public educators and then the whole organization supports efforts are uniformed

personnel are firefighters and paramedics are out in the community regularly doing prevention messaging doing risk reduction work. All of that is a collective effort, the organization so they're

really everybody's key to the success of the prevention mission. Last thing to mention because it off the press, typically this is the last point I would highlight is our block party or annual block

party. Which was scheduled for this Sat. At fossil Park but unfortunately due to impending inclement weather we're going to have to cancel that event so we're we're saddened about that but to get

everybody a chance to stay safe and. And hopefully well-prepared thank you thank you, thank you, thank you. The everything else ok want make sure okay thank you. Next up we have the 3 this is the

first responders day proclamation believe our mayor is going to give this proclamation that you're good afternoon good after area of our city team. All members of our community thank you for the great

job you do. We've talked about Saint Pete fire rescue also want to recognize chief Holloway and members of the Saint Pete. Police Department. We have a first responders who really set the standard for

public service in America and this is an opportunity to recognize them. And so I am proclaiming Wed. 10/28/2026 as first responders day and MADAM Chair, we spoke with you. Team earlier the reason we

made that really quick is because we have an emerging issue with hurricane Isaias I'm pronouncing that correctly. We have emergency policy group meeting at 1 o'clock and we thought we use this 5

minutes instead of reading the proclamation just to give everybody an update on potential impacts nothing like killing 2 years ago, but still we do have some potential impacts would like to share with

you in the advance of some communications that will be going out later today. So amber moving out. Emergency management manager will take it from you and thank you. It's never fun to deliver storm

news in the middle of all these great proclamations I I appreciate it. As mayor said we have hurricane Isaias right now so there's actually 2 different events that we're dealing with at the same time

as you know we've had this heavy rain the last several days that's a separate system. Then the hurricane that we're monitoring so we're going to continue to have that heavy rainfall today to the

weekend. We already have saturated grounds. We're going to see an additional 2 to 4 inches throughout the weekend isolated totals up to 6 inches. Possible and then we have the hurricane that we're

monitoring currently at account one. Set to make landfall towards the Florida Panhandle kind of that Florida Alabama line. So with that and it is set to stay well west of Saint Pete all a lot of eyes

are on it. You know a lot of us. Last few years have been through a lot with hurricanes do not know a lot of eyes are they're more worried about the storm surge so hopefully I can deliver some good

news, but also to keep everybody kind of on top of their preparedness game. So it will stay well to our West but we are going to see higher than usual tide. So one to 3 feet above normal. Could affect

low-lying streets low-lying neighborhoods, coastal advisory is in fact is in effect we're looking to see that highest water overnight Fri. Into Sat. With high tide at around 02:00am again one to 3

feet. It's important to note that this is not a Helene it's not in a deli it's not even a to those are all the ins and I've seen thrown around on social media and this is a type of water that we could

get that's not the indication that we're getting from the National Hurricane center. So again one to 3 feet above normal that's enough to kind of inundate our roads so we want to get the message out

there please don't drive through flooded roads. We have our new legislation that's out about you know not creating that week when you're driving through so we're going to have law enforcement out

there and a lot of these folks standing around me making sure that we're out trying to keep people safe that we really want our residents to understand we need your help to make sure everybody stays

safe. Just a quick update on what the city's doing so citywide we're putting on messaging regarding and the city actions on social media. We have had to cancel several several several city events have

been canceled due to the inclement weather expected. And the city will be sending everbridge notification to residents with this latest weather update and again reminding them to not drive through

flooded roads or not create those weeks that could then push the water up into homes. Our public sports teams have placed really a permanent pumps located in low-lying neighborhoods and they're

deploying 6 additional pumps to shore acres to help mitigate flooding. Those teams are clearing greats and ensuring the drainage is clear and lowering the lake levels and like the gory in Revere Bay,

and just a reminder about sandbag operations. We have that site open daily Mon. Through Fri. And then on certain Sat., so it will be open tomorrow 7330 as well as Sat. 73 30 at the stormwater payment

traffic operations building at 17 53th Avenue North. Fire rescue will be staffing their 3 high water vehicles which will be at station 7 which is fossil Park station 8 like mccoury and station 9 which

is over Pasadena. And I think it's worth noting that we've also deployed 20 firefighters with Florida task force 3 up to the Panhandle to assist with their response as well, and just out of an

abundance of caution extra forestry teams will be active this weekend to address any debris within the streets and to keep roadways clear and that is the update I have for you in q you mentioned the

everbridge alerts are those if you sign up for those alerts. So those are often so that the everbridge system is the same as the alert Pinellas is right in. There has to function so there's an opt-in

function that we consent to those that opt in. Then they have the reverse 911 function where we can force push notifications to all cell phones within a certain geographic area. So we tend to save

those alerts for kind of life safety issues. So the alert that will be sending today will be for all of the opt-in users but then city of St. Petersburg okay just want to see if there is a place you

can sign up or people can sign up for the alerts. It's a thriller Pinellas thriller Pinellas and then they'll get it just to make sure that psa is a yes. Thank you thank you well, thank you for the

update and for everything you do and let's pray for everyone that is in the path of the storm. Thank you. We have before which is the legacy 6 prop. That's I think where you with a skipping reading

the proclamation. Okay we're good I just want make sure because that's what I heard and I was being asked I'd just like Jack we're good okay. Next up we have the 4 legacy 6 proclamation. And chief

lots. And the legacy 6 whoever is here for that can join the she at the podium, so you're welcome to stand if you can stand and doing to see. Thank you and I believe there is a video. A long time no

see the few minutes. It would be free and we do that. If you. For Hayden problems only job and that they all know what strength and grace. We're going to start to see people first. It it is a

firefighter. I spent a 32 years on the same people who were fighting for what was it like. Join the fight. A challenge to this and problems at if your station I went to I get couldn't get a passing

grade until I got to station 2 and I get excel. We had a lot of prejudice I guess so I worked out of the original station one which is due care like downtown. I know was a fire station. I would go to

go to bed at night. And then we had open doors. There were no cubicles should just be a rule bids. And where have I made my bill to go to bed when I when I got ready to go up to go to be anyone else

from the Bears to the other side to him that order where when what do the dishes it out of that and I think we're sort of Washington with thrown in the garbage. So because a black man it off to the

issues. It was like my food that is that even it MAY be a good good to to grow. They let the set right there we'll with up when he withdrew and floor with you. Well that was very painful. i never ran

a teen and jokes what I can see it about. To the captain. A district chief. I didn't get along with all of them. And I just followed all the structures in at the end of the year if you do, and that's

what I d my father. It's never complained about him. I am aware. want we see everybody's watching tv. Together when he walks in its or you know, everyone's eating. He comes in a sit down and

everybody's like that sort of thing what happened to my father was Eugene Curry I think it was more important that he never really want to show that stuff with me and I don't know if he was going to

kind of show me from that's from at least a few saw or even something as experiences I thought it was just for him it was easier for them to just like not set up part of his life when I do remember

him coming home and just a look and rain and and some of that some of his bed have his would be directly because of the job. Is comes with more on the 2 most. Female was in a mobile. She was stripped.

And I swim they didn't. And I didn't have. It get this person out of his So I turned away from her. GOD you will have to hit me with this one. And instantly. He gave me the. To get our com. Probably

being promoted to lieutenant, I didn't realize it it still doesn't not that big of a deal now to MS. You know, it's just something I do. We didn't do it for any accolades and recognition which If

people will change and I made a lot of friends on the Florida bar I had a lot of. Roof tiles will forever rough time I had I had 52. We always hear world too in the States you. Bay. If you see it

right there. 18 summit where that big day it's going to get back 5. I drove up to the recommended. It's a good feeling. I missed the on the job. In a white guys on the job. A problem with that with

them. Me because of my skin, we know the show. You know I do want to thank all of them for opening the door, we know for. Other young men and women to come through Saint Pete fire rescue like it's

it's crazy to think that you know, I mean it wasn't so long ago and they've made history. We're now in its. We're all still here you know I hope everybody you know. Understands that they really truly

paved the way. My father mayor recognizes elects 6. I feel it's surreal it wasn't for his sacrifices, I wouldn't do this job if it wasn't for him. I think he'd be happy. This is as I am with the

importance of it and not if. If this helps by any means in somebody owes motivated to do to do this career, whatever aspirations, they have in this is that stepping stone for you a stent to be single

juror. Riley. Preston Floyd. It would it would be buys Julia c kg so time, I'm the daughter of retired fire captain Afonso grounds cap and Everett Curry my father was in JUNE curry and he's a part of

the legacy 6. Not showman make it through this but I'll try. Stand Singletary I've stand over the since I've been here about 8 years. And no the. A legacy 6 and many others. But particularly the

legacy 6. The ones that I got a chance to know are very humble. Very humble. They don't ask for recognition. They don't look you know to be recognized. But it is worthy. To be here standing before you

because I stand on the shoulders of members of the legacy 6. Good afternoon. Chair Council guests. And administration. On JUNE 29th. St. Petersburg fire rescue. Honored the legacy 6. We have invited

them their families and colleagues here today to commend remember and celebrate their contributions to our beloved city. They represent the best of us. I have invited them to join me in reading of

this proclamation. Whereas in the early 1970's, captain Alphonso Brown sr. Lieutenant Willie Barnes. Raleigh Preston Floyd. Firefighter Eugene Curry firefighters stand Singletary and firefighter and a

Lee broke racial barriers. When they became the first black firefighters to serve with the city of St. Petersburg Fire Department. Now known as St. Petersburg fire rescue. Whereas the city of St.

Petersburg also recognizes the leadership of Henri. Ashwood sr. In mentoring and recruiting of law enforcement officers, including members of the legacy 6. And whereas despite the challenges

encountered the legacy 6 answered the call to serve their community with courage. Professionalism determination and an unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of the people of St.

Petersburg and whereas together the legacy 6 dedicated more than a 180 years of combined service to the city of St. Petersburg community, leaving and enduring example of leadership. Perseverance and

commitment to others. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg fire rescue recognize that understanding. And honoring our shared history. Strengthens our community and helps build a future where every

individual has the opportunity to serve. Lead and contribute. Now therefore I Keith are Watts fire rescue chief for the city of St. Petersburg do hereby recognize and honor in the city of St.

Petersburg and urge all residents to join. The city in honoring their courage. Service perseverance and legacy. Thank you. Is there anyone from the that which is to speak on behalf of. Legacy I just

might give you the opportunity just in case that you can see there for a minute I believe some council members have. You don't have to speak, but you don't have to speak but the council members want

to hear some words with you. Councilmember Givens thank you I can say MR. Singletary is a man of few words, a humble man, but a man of few words and so we just want to say thank you to use the ashwood

family to all of the legacy 6 into you chief Watts thank you for this recognition. I'm always been a firm believer in giving a person their flowers well they can smell them so I certainly want to let

you know missus single tear we are indebted to you and your service. You blaze trails that so many of us have followed and we just want you to know that we're grateful. Your service and the service of

the other legacy. 6 members is to be commended a 180 years of combined service of the city. That is something that should be celebrated and so I just want you to know we are grateful we are thankful

and we will forever celebrate and honor you and your legacy and I just want to know how to talk with those helmets over those Afros. As a member fix Sanders. Thank you. You know. As I sit here on and

I watched the video and I can fandom it can't even imagine what it been like to have put your life on the line and public safety to save some of the same people that didn't give you the respect that

you deserve and yet it's do you showed up each and every day. And so for that we say thank you. For the pioneers because again how appropriate it is for the city of St. Petersburg to also have is

first african-american fire and rescue chief. Here doing my time when I can actually see that in be grateful for the history was made. I am the first african-american to represent my district. So

there are a lot of firsts that we've seen but there's nothing could compare. To the. Trails that you've paved for us. And again we thank you to your families we thank you to the ashwood family we

thank you. And again the flowers that we're presenting to you today does not go lightly because we are in a trying time you know. We're we're going to have to continue to tell the store. Story because

we are a year and we're not going anywhere. And that history needs to continue to be told over and over again and as I say first. There are a lot of firsts that we've witnessed and we need to continue

to witness those first is celebrate those first and again chief last thank you for bringing this proclamation. Thank you chair, thank you Council. Thank you to the legacy 6 and their families for

everything that they've been through to make our city a better place I actually have a question. Where can we get the video to share is there a longer version or they're different versions. I would

love to be able to share that with people we will we will share it with Council okay cool. Thank you very I think this is an important thing for everyone in our city to see and so I'd love to be able

to share with people thank you chair. Thank you. And I want to also thank you, MR. Singletary and your family and all the families of the legacy 6 a legacy 6 for opening doors. He started opening

doors in the 1970's. Door still need to be opened. For many others. And you left a legacy that has open doors for people that never thought that they could go through those stores. It was a time when

there weren't women and the fire service too. And there are other groups that probably are not represented. So it all builds on each other and I hope that we don't forget that what you did at that

moment you probably didn't realize the impact that he had not just on you and those around you and your community. But ever it went through the community in different ways and to different groups and

so I just want to let you know as the first Latina here in the city of St. Petersburg as on City Council. Thank you because it takes people to open doors for others. So those or see continue to be

open. So thank you very much. Thank you, okay. And it is national co-operative month proclamation. It's gonna be given by councilmember Gabbert so if there is anyone here present and would like to

join councilmember gabbard they're welcome to do so at the podium. Thank you, MADAM Chair. Excited to present this proclamation today for a movement that I have been so proud to champion from day one

here at City Hall national co-operative month celebrates the power of community and the power of our community to be able to solve some of our most difficult challenges. Throughout history

cooperatives have killed a roll around labor and worker co-operatives business and retail housing finance, agriculture and food insecurity. And it is a model for community empowerment that dates back

to the 1700's in the United States. And so today I am joined by Erika Hardison. And so she is. Chair of one community grocery co-op and Scott howson way back there in the back come on up sky from Lake

Michigan credit union and I want to thank the mayor for the opportunity to present this. The proclamation reads national co-operative month which is observed each OCTOBER provides an opportunity to

recognize the contributions of cooperatives and celebrate the members employees volunteers and leaders to sustain them. And whereas co-operative business in St. Petersburg and across the nation

contribute significantly to local current economic resilience by keeping wealth within the community creating quality jobs and reinvesting in neighborhood development and whereas cooperatives operate

in a Democratic model that empowers worker owners producers and consumers fostering civic engagement equity and social well-being while addressing critical community needs the collaboration and

whereas profits generated by co-operative are either returned to its members or reinvested in the co-operative helping to keep the economic benefits of local enterprise within the community. And

whereas co-operative businesses contribute to resilient and sustainable communities by fostering local ownership economic participation and long-term investment. Now therefore I councilmember Brandon

gathered on behalf of Kenneth t Welsh the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 2026 that's national co-operative month in St. Petersburg and encourage residents to learn about

support and participate and cooperative enterprises. Oh, yes, sorry, somebody is that if we could I would love for Erika and Scott to both share a few words. City Council members mayor and fellow

residents on behalf of one community cursory collapse, thank you for recognizing OCTOBER as national collect month. Here in the city of St. Petersburg national call-up month is more than a celebration

of a business model. It is a celebration of people shared power. Economic democracy and the belief that we are stronger together cooperatives are built on a simple yet powerful principle, the people

who use and benefit from the business should have a voice and it's taken its ownership and that's especially important here in South St. Petersburg for far too long our community has experienced the

consequences of food and security where fresh access or excuse me where access to fresh healthy affordable food has been limited and residents had have had little say in the economic decisions that

shape their neighborhoods. At one community grocery co-op we are working to change that. We are not simply building a grocery store we're building community well creating opportunities for local

farmers and entrepreneurs and ensuring that residents are not just consumers in their community but their owners of its future. Because ownership matters and every new member. Brings us one step

closer to making that vision a reality the proclamation is meaningful because it recognizes that cooperatives are not just an alternative way of doing business. They are a powerful tool. For building

a more just resilient and self determined St. Petersburg so as we celebrate national co-op meant. I invite our city leaders businesses and neighbors to do more than recognize cooperatives support them

invest in then become a member owner, help build in economy where prosperity is shared because the future of St. Petersburg should not simply be built for its residents but it should be built by its

residents and owned by its residents. Thank you and happy national co a month. We should let you speak last. I just want to mention that there are 7 co-operative principles that are international

principles that all to cooperate stand on the 6th principle is cooperation among cooperatives there are financial co-operatives better known as credit unions, there are all sorts of different

cooperate institutions in this nation and this in this world and they serve an important important role so I would encourage all of you study them look at them figure out why they're important and why

member and organizations are truly. What perhaps one of the most democratic organizations and examples of that that I've seen in my 20 years working in the co-operative space. Thank you. Thank you. If

you so much for your work in the for your advocacy in the community, I'll leave it to buy hear Floyd so the next. Thank you all were going to go on to item d 6 domestic violence awareness month

proclamation given by chair hen Whitson. You're here to for this you can join channel it to the podium. Thank you to those from Castle, they're here for this proclamation. As those that have seen me

present this proclamation in the past I've shared you know before I was a City Council member many years ago, I was a prosecutor here in Pinellas County was a federal prosecutor. When you are a

prosecutor in Pinellas County. It's a rite of passage when you're young prosecutor in you're doing misdemeanors. You have the options of going and doing domestic court. Traffic court. And those are 2

paths you can take I took going into the mess the court. I knew how important it was. 2 victims of crime to make sure that they are represented. I will tell you that when you think about that base and

the ecosystem that work in that space. I was just one small part of that system. You think about domestic violence there the crimes that are report it and the prime center not reported. And some think

that MAY not meet the level of what a statute. Labels as a crime to be prosecuted. And these good folks feel with all of that and try to help these victims to get them to a better place. They're

difficult cases because of the subject matter that you're talking about it's a very vulnerable space. A lot of times you could see some of the worst cases out there. And you will have victims that

will not cooperate because of what they're dealing with and the fear that they have in their lives. And it not this affects them. It affects their families the children everyone around them. I still

to this day and you know a night that crimes by the child abuse cases, some of the worst stuff that you can imagine when you go before you're in you're going to try a case and you have a panel of

jurors in your question them and you're asking he be fair and impartial there's always somebody that MAY raise a hand and say come up to the bench to the judge and attorneys and say I can try this

case because I've been a victim of crime, you know violence. I know someone has been abused. The amount of times that happened it shocking and there was one case like that that I went to the level of

going to trial that you would have something like that happen. So when you look around you in this room. I guarantee you there's probably someone in here that has faced situations that you can't

imagine and so we have to be constantly aware fast though I I value the work that is done in this space to work at Casa does I think we all need to be village vigilant of this and spread the word. So

I am honored to read this proclamation whereas each OCTOBER we come together as a community to observe domestic violence awareness month recognizing the profound impact the Mesick violence has on

individuals families businesses in society. Whereas domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over their

intimate partner and whereas domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions regardless of age gender race or socioeconomic status. And it requires our collective commitment to raise

awareness provide support and seek justice for victims. And whereas we honor that strength and resilience of survivors and acknowledge the tireless efforts of organizations and advocates who worked to

end domestic violence and provide safety and support for those affected. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg supports organizations that provide resources. Safety an advocacy to Mesick violence

survivors and their children. Now therefore I share with that hand with some behalf of canopy watch near the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim Oct. 2026 is domestic violence awareness

month and urge all citizens to actively participate in scheduled activities and program sponsored by local agencies to work towards the elimination of personal and institutional violence against all

people. Thank you. Good afternoon and thank you so much Council for recognizing OCTOBER as officials domestic violence awareness month. Despite its prevalence in our communities domestic violence

remains one of the least visible crimes shrouded in secrecy and often behind closed doors. In 2024. St. Petersburg Police Department right recorded 1863 domestic violence offenses as the chair was

talking about very few incidences are actually recorded national statistics show us 70% of domestic violence. It's never reported to law enforcement. So if we use that statistic that means more than

6200 people were affected by domestic violence. That's roughly 17 people every single day just here in St. Petersburg a recent national study found that 61% of women report experiencing domestic

violence at some point in their life. This coming year Casa will celebrate our 50th anniversary in this community. And I'm going to take a minute just to toot our own horn. We operate the only family

just a city Centre in the state of Florida. Right here in St. Petersburg according to the us Department of Justice this is the best way to serve survivors of domestic violence where the only one until

Orlando opens up their center in a that year too St. Petersburg can tell it the only one in the state of Florida. Our shelters significantly larger than most domestic violence centers throughout the

state of Florida. Every single night we safely House almost a 100 women, children, dogs cats, men, people who are affected by domestic violence. Last year we open the costs of victims rights law

Centre and you know about that it's exciting. It's exciting broadening our legal services from just providing injunction for protection assistance to know including family housing and employment law

for survivors of domestic violence, stocking and assault and more. Everything that cause it does is free and confidential. Every year we served more than 3 1000 people. We also invests heavily in

prevention. We know that men who witness domestic violence as children are 60% more likely to ultimately abuse their partners later in life. We also know that there are more likely to commit mass

murders, assault and more. We help children build a very different path. As we recognize domestic violence awareness month have one final request and its please follow us on social media at Casa

Pinellas and share our information widely. Ciara's talked about people who are affected. I guarantee every single person in this room know someone who is experiencing violence at home with the

information you share can she save their life and provide resources that they might not otherwise know about so please thank you appreciate the attention on domestic violence and for all you do to

support our services. With us here today. We do have Casa team members. We have fellow advocates in the community doing really great work and we have survivors of domestic violence, joining us. Thank

you. But we have a few council councilmember Givens if you'd like to say. Thank you vice chair and thank you chair hand what's bringing this forward Larry Ana, its patents roof, the roof all of you.

Thank you for what you do have the opportunity to be with some of you this past weekend at 5th Avenue Really 5th Avenue Church of Christ. For your domestic violence awareness event and let me just

tell you it left a mark on my heart I just want to say. Thank you. 4 allowing victims to share space. Thank you so much the silhouettes exhibit telling the story of how domestic violence has impacted

our own community. Right here in our own backyard, this Ruthie your daughter's life was not lost in vain because you are keeping her legacy in her memory alive and I know she would be proud and so I

just want to say you all have. Okay for victims not to suffer in silence, it's okay to say hey I've been abuse or I know someone who's been abused. And so as you said each one of us in here have been

either directly or indirectly affected by domestic violence and somewhere another and it knows no bounds knows no limits and so I just think Casa in our community partners of Saint Pete Police

Department for standing with victims. You know whether it's in a courtroom or sitting on their couch in their living room, your PRESIDENT And your presence makes a difference said thank you and GOD

bless you thank you MISTER, thank you council member driskell thank you. And thank you chair for reading a proclamation and to all of you for being here today and for all that you do. It's great to

have you in here say that we can remind everyone of just how big this problem really is but then also the strength of your organization and what you are doing to help and prevent every single day. And

you are true heroes and I I just admire you so much so thank you for all all that you're doing. I know that this is also in his me I know that this topic is also something that chief Holloway's

passionate values in the room and I will I know that chief you have been a great partner to this organization and others and I want to thank you and just express my gratitude just one of the reasons

that we. Absolutely love you as our police chief. The you know this when hits home for a lot of people. And I know that you're there and 4. Victims survivors and those who are trying to help them in

your standing side by side with them every day. I just really appreciate the attention the eaa given to this. There could be people out there probably the saying how can I help. Of course donations.

Monetary donations, but. With the. The work that you're doing if someone wanted to gather some things to bring to you that people really need right now. What are you looking for. We are looking for

everything when people are in shelter, it is their home away from home so everything that you use at home we supply at our shelter formula diapers food. Sheets. Stuffed animals for children who are

coming into shelter, so weak rely on donations like that every single day are campuses are in downtown Saint Pete who can bring them by at any point in time we have Amazon wish lists. There's all

sorts of ways that you can assess. I will also say Casa has an upcoming scavenger hunt Nov. 7th. And this is a fun way in downtown Saint Pete for people to become more educated about domestic violence

to scary subject. One that's hard to communicate. And so we try and provide the broader community with an interactive way to learn about domestic violence. How to recognize it how to help and so I

encourage you to go to our website Casa pannell's dot org to learn more about how you can get involved with contributions joining the scavenger hunt or there's a plethora of ways that you can assist.

It's great, I know a lot of people want to help so wanted to make sure you had a chance to get that out there and finally I just wanted to thank you for. I'm considering pets. In these situations.

I've learned a lot about how some people won't leave because they can't take the dog with them. That means a lot to me personally so thank you for handling that. And if I can just comment on that we

just tightened injunction for protection laws in Florida that do include now using the Pat as leverage in a relationship so we're making some good progress at the state level and that's great that's

great. Well thank you and thank you for considering. The whole family. All kinds of family members when helping those who are in this situation. Thank you and thank you chair. Thank you. Thank you for

bringing up the fact that you're continuing to make a lot stronger because they need to get stronger and stronger. The fact that somebody will use a pen again someone to keep them in the violent

relationship this is unbelievable. But that's the type of people that are committing these crimes. And just one more point on that less than 3% of domestic violence are going to get stations across

the nation have a pet Kennel. So were one of the very few that recognize and invest in that. Thank you and one other way they can do is there you have the thrift shop, it's very easy for someone to

drive their car. Right behind your store at the thrift shop and put your stuff in there and donate to your thrift shop and you're open on Saturdays to write that they can better days and Senate that

Sat. In and we are expanding Sat. And Sun. From 9 to 4. Pm it's open. So there's no to somebody needs to donate and you have to clear out things that the House lows in all the items that you mentioned

that people can use you can take things from there that you can give to 2 people in your shelters and also sell things at the store right, I'm also going to advocated some really great shopping and

really great job. Thank you very much. Thank you ladies. Next up we have the 7 and it is breast cancer awareness month proclamation and this is going to be given by councilmember Curtis. Thank you,

MADAM Chair colleagues, I'd invite our health care partners that are here to join me at the podium. We have representation from all 3 of our major Healthcare partners Bay care Orlando health and hca

and so very thankful for them joining me today. 6 years ago today I was having lunch at for us. I know big surprise. A group is having lunch at ferg's but I was having lunch at ferg's that was

bringing Some other financial Advisors, some young some younger guys I was mentoring to launch we were kind of talking over the business. Occasionally during lunch, you got a call from your wife I

took it. She was in tears. I immediately put the phone down. Drove to her office and found out the news, my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. 6 years ago today. It changed our lives. Change

my kids lives. It continues to change our life. The good news of that is that the people behind me care deeply about changing the trajectory of that. You're going to hear some of the stats in a minute

when I read this proclamation. So these numbers continue to change in the way that they should. And so. There's a there's a lot of stories to this and if my wife is listening she knows. She is the

hero of the story. She continued to be a mom. She continued to be an amazing leader at her office. She continued to put up with me which is the most staggering part. And she continues to do that

today. That's just one of the people that get diagnosed with this brutal disease. And so not only is she the hero of my story. The people behind me that we are talking about they are the heroes of our

community doing the work that make sure that women like my wife, and some men. Get the care they need to win they get the worst news of their life. And so I can speak from experience as my wife.

First-class care from each of the institutions behind me. And Saint Pete general she had some sort of care at each one of those that's the care being provided here in our community that is changing

the lives. From people diagnosed with breast cancer. Before I read this I want to thank you. Thank you for being miracle workers every day. Thank you for doing the work. My wife safe and healthy. So I

get to wake up tomorrow and. Because that's the best part of my day is when I wake up and I get to see her next to me and you make that happen. To read the proclamation. One in 8 women in America and

one in 833 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives or one person every 2 minutes. And whereas breast cancer touches so many lives in our city and our County from our loved

ones and friends to our neighbors and co-workers who have survived or lost their lives to breast cancer. Thanks to earlier detection and better treatments mortality rates for breast cancer have

decreased in the last decade. And whereas affordable access to screenings and early detection for all women is an essential component in the fight against breast cancer. Whereas the state of Florida

recognize the need to provide uninsured low-income women ages 50 to 64 with access to lifesaving cancer screenings such as mammography and cervical cancer screenings through its breast and cervical

cancer program or be ccp. And whereas the Florida Department of Health and Pinellas counties be ccp performs life-saving screenings yearly and has been recognized as one of the state's top programs.

We stand with our mothers. Our grandmothers, our sisters and friends and supporting their struggles after a breast cancer diagnosis, as well as recognizing. The miracle worker doctors. Nurses and

other Healthcare professionals whose care and dedication give hope to those living with breast cancer. Now therefore I councilmember coach league or us on behalf of Kathy Welch mayor of the city of

St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 2026 as breast cancer awareness month throughout the city and I urge all residents to educate themselves on prevention and treatment options. Of this devastating

disease. Thank you. I good afternoon. My name is Marie alley and I'm the new ceo at cpa to Florida Healthcare hospital. Then and as the COUNCILMAN Mentions breast cancer really does touch nearly every

family and the state of Florida in particular and Pinellas it's actually a higher prevalence over the rest of the state. And so for us it's really accent role that screening is of paramount importance

in this community. Daily we make sure we ammo services we have phenomenal breast surgeons we have a survivorship councils all the things that really wrap patients and the families within Pinellas

around breast cancer, prevention and breast cancer survival and so what I asked today is that. You all go home. And you remind your loved ones to make sure they get ammo if they have not done in the

month of OCTOBER in 2026. Thank you. Councilmember fix. Sanders. Well thank you so much for this in in and he's always. Encouraging to hear of the survivors of of breast cancer, but it doesn't negate

the fact that it still happens. So there are some names that I want to call because I want to speak their names as survivor. We sat there in Williams. Due to Patrice Moore. Tice's skin. Monica Pierre.

Carolyn Thomas. And I did have for years to come Paula challenge words when I was happy to the analysis of I love my Mommy. This e-mail Campbell who survived breast cancer and she was surrounded as

you say councilmember Curtis by family and friends with really made a difference. But what was even more important is that we had all of those services right here locally in the city of St. Petersburg

that saved their lives and so for me OCTOBER will always be a month that will be celebrated that will be remembered that will be encouraged. 2 yes please get your mammograms. The ladies and gentleman

and make sure that that you take care of those needs. But again I want to thank those that provide those services with more importantly I want to continue to pray for our survivors those that are

going through it those that are dealing with it because you know we've had some that have have you Pete current says, and it never gets easier. And it doesn't weigh more so on the patient in sos. Then

it does the family because you feel so helpless this like what can we do and how can we do it. But again I just wanted to acknowledge this month. I want to think the awareness that we are continuing

to give. 2 OCTOBER is breast cancer awareness month so thank you councilmember Curtis. Thank you. So since we're talking about breast cancer and we had some doctors here. The screening that people

should be doing if we can get some information in terms of what should I mean the average annual as soon as a woman 20's for 40. You should be going at least every 2 years if you don't have any

history if you have history you should do it more. But I just want to put out there, I mean at least for me I do it. Every 2 years if I have to go more. If that my doctor tells me I do it but I mean

you have to meet with your doctor make sure you're getting the screening has recommended and honestly before age 40 if anyone notices a lump. They need to go see a doctor. So I just want make sure

that information is out there because I think the most important thing is early detection right and that increases the survival rates. So thank you for the miracle workers and for doing the work that

you do in this Basin forgetting the message out there and councilmember you know every year when you say this, I mean after hold back how I feel because I know says Ali and what you've gone through

and I you know. We really appreciate you sharing the story with us and with our community so thank you. Thank you, everyone councilmember fake vendors. I would be remiss if I did not recognize one of

our own who is standing in a different position. Ryan I he was actually doing some very important work and I want to thank you you've made a major move and what you're doing but again I have to

recognize the fact that we loss phenomenal young man here City Hall. But what you are doing now is valuable it is priceless and I thank you for that mine. Thank you. Thank you. Next item up is that

the 8 which is the National pedestrian safety month proclamation I believe there are some people here for that you can join by hear Floyd at the podium for the presentation of the proclamation. Well

everyone's joining I'll just say a couple of things we've had some. a strong. Presentations today very intense and I'm gonna try to do both sides of this one so first yeah we're going to start like

that as well. This is a proclamation that's really important to me and one that I think. If you've seen my advocacy on this issue, you'll you'll know that that's the case and I'll just tell you a

little bit why. I've had multiple family members hit by vehicles, this pedestrian is including my cousins who's one of my best friends and my wife and so I've had near misses myself and so I think

that we have basically an epidemic of this in our community and our country and our world and so I think it's really important that we advocate for it. The flip side of that though is that I think

we've been making great progress in our city recently. I think that we've done a very good job of showing a path forward specifically for our region really I think we hear a lot about our region and

how our region handles traffic at crashes and pedestrian safety. A region handles a portly but I do think that if you dig into the numbers and you see what's going on in the city of St. Petersburg

we've started to make some headway in a positive direction. And so I wanted to uplift that message before I read the proclamation saw get started whereas walk it, excuse me whereas walking is a

healthy sustainable and accessible mode of transportation that supports community well-being physical activity and a reduced environmental impact. And whereas the safe and welcoming environment for

walking improves public health strengthens neighborhoods and supports local businesses which advances the goals of key pillars for progress including neighborhood health and safety. And environment.

Infrastructure and resilience and whereas the city of St. Petersburg is committed to us. It's a safe accessible streets that encourage residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to walk which

helps meet the goals of ce safety, public health quality of life access to jobs. Economic development in keeping with the city's ongoing efforts to build a more walkable and multi-modal transportation

network and whereas pedestrian safety remains a critical concern nationally with data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing that 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic

crashes in 2024. The death of roughly every 2.74 minutes and more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured. And whereas well fatal pedestrian crashes are trending higher nationally of St. Petersburg

fatalities are trending lower as evidenced by smart growth America, a recently reporting a national increase of 45% from 34 to 2024. Well Petersburg experience, a 54% decrease. In the same comparison.

And whereas the city remains committed to investments in infrastructure, education and enforcement and will not be satisfied until the pedestrian death rate is 0. And whereas all roadway users share

responsibility for pedestrian safety. And drivers are sure must remain vigilant, particularly across walks and intersections marked or unmarked and maintain safe speeds as even small increases in

vehicle speeds significantly elevate the risk of severe injury or death. And whereas the city recognizes and thanks the community organizations advocates and city staff who worked to promote

pedestrian safety and encourage walking as a motive both transportation and recreation. Now therefore I councilmember Ritchie Floyd on behalf of candidates, the Welsh mayor of the city of St.

Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 20 26. 20 26 as the national pedestrian safety month in the city of St. Petersburg and urge all residents, businesses and visitors to embrace the benefits of walking

practice safe habits on our streets and work together to build a safer more walkable community for all thank you. Good afternoon Council of the more director transportation parking management like to

thank mayor world for signing the proclamation bring higher awareness to the importance of pedestrian safety in St. Petersburg and Council vice chair Floyd for presenting the proclamation today. So

appreciate several residents supporters who came out today took time to be here with us like to recognize Elizabeth statement Elena Grande with the Transportation Department who are here today. Also

I'd like to recognize the assistant chief to do with the Saint Pete fire rescue department. He's here today she serves on our complete streets committee and the Fire Department does have a big part in

helping educate the public. About the importance of roadway safety. They're also the ones who respond and make sure that those who do end up getting injured on a roadway. Get excellent care and have

the best outcomes possible. Likewise the like to thank the Saint Pete Police Department who's here today major Bush is he reckoned with them she's in charge of the traffic. A unit or above the traffic

unit as well as most of mailing. She's are please crossing guard supervisor. Sergeant Baker's and lieutenant love your people we work with often and all the officers in that unit are especially

effective as an educator. They can educate the public in ways the fire rescue and transportation can't. If you know, I mean. So besides what they do every day. Whenever we identify a problem location.

They're always willing to help with the education and enforcement words like I make the biggest difference. Next I'd like to invite. Saint Pete resident Paul Kurtz to say a few words has one of the

longest serving members of the marriage bicycle pedestrian advisory committee and you see them here before Council meeting speaking in advocating for enhance mobility and safety before for all of our

roadways. He's a great community partner and effective champion for safety I'm glad he volunteered to say a few words today, so well please. Thank you to the city for the proclamation. As Kevin

mentioned that have been involved with the mares bicycle and pedestrian committee. Over the last 4 administration so it's been a it's been a while I'm humbled here to say a few words on on behalf of

some other colleagues and friends and organizations that support pedestrian and bicycle safety. Including some friends and colleagues from the act of 18 also a member. Safety I've said before is

probably the number one job of the city and. The proclamation is really is a vital step in acknowledging the safety of our most vulnerable road users. And it's an urgent priority. The city is a

vibrant beautiful active place and being able to walk rolled bike. Should not be a privilege should be a fundamental right. And no matter how we travel at the end of the day we're all pedestrians.

Also start recognizing what our city is doing right because there's been a lot of things councilmember Florida that it to them. Evan has as well 8 years ago we. We started with our complete streets

plan that really moved the city towards designing streets for all road users for people not sba calls that's an important step. Later this year the complete streets. Plan will be in place will be

updated rather with a renewed focus on safety we're going to call the safe streets plan. Tough years late coming, but that's a conversation for another time happy to see that it is coming. Also happy

to report that the sidewalk master plan has some good legs now and that through the good fortune. The council has authorize additional funding for sidewalks and particular the sidewalk master plan for

this year so very pleased about that that's the most progress. Crossings or something that are also important I think everybody knows now with the red flashing beacons mean they're called are bees but

they're kind of ubiquitous around the city and maybe 10 years ago, there were maybe a couple in town. Maybe one on 22th Street, no one would do what to do with it there's 22th have an excuse me. But

now some people seem to kind of know what they are actually stop for them. So that's good progress. That's good progress for safety. Good pieces of progress the city's made is focusing in on the high

injury networks. The Saint Pete South the South Saint beats the area mobility study was just completed and we're looking at those high injury networks, especially mlk South and look forward to seeing

some of those get implemented in the near future. Funding is always been a key. You've probably heard me talk about that. Too many times upright on him to talk about it again. But the good news is

that the city. The mayor the administration the council have identified and recognize this and approved additional funding for these resources. We now have another funding mechanism for this so kudos

to the city for that. Not everything costs money. There are. That don't cost money. Not everything has a cost. So one of the things I would encourage the city to take a closer look at is one that's

been mentioned previously it's a tool that we can't wait haven't explored fully. 3 years ago the state passed legislation allowing for automated speed detection systems and in school zone 2 years ago.

Myself and some colleagues as Matt meant Max mentioned approach the chief un suggested that the city explore this a little bit further and. Well here we are. 2 years later well, we understand that

implementation requires careful consideration of costs and Forsman technology privacy we've heard about privacy a lot today, so that's an important consideration and appropriate locations for these

our peers in Tampa Orlando. Have strategically located these and the numbers are promising. So I can I urged the council. 2 look more closely at this program, the city can use the cameras to identify

vehicles. Only going 10 miles an hour over. That's not. Anyone I think would argue with that's essentially a revenue neutral program. So that's really no cost to the taxpayers so I would love to see

the city explore that program a little bit further. But let's celebrate the city's significant investments in pedestrian safety improvements. Those investments matter. But lets also not forget that we

have had a high percentage in high number of pedestrians killed in fact a 107 over the last 10 years. The trend is in the right direction as the data has born out but. We don't want to rest until that

number gets to 0, 0, is the target. However you travel at the end of the day we're all pedestrians. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Givens thank you vice-chair flooring for bringing this forward.

And thanks to each of you all for all that you do in your work on even you Evan because we couldn't do what we do without you. I certainly appreciate. The statistics that were brought forward it is

nice to know that we are on this downward trend, which means that we're taking steps in the right direction, but as you said Paul we've got for the go because even though we decrease that number about

54% none of us are going to be happy until we see injuries and fatalities at 0 that's flat line that. Thank you again Max Palmetto Park activate Saint Pete always been willing to invite me to be a

part of your bike to school events. I love those in other council members are invited to so feel free to join us is plenty of room on the road. But speaking of school zones and roads. Thank you Max

for always champion, those school saying school zone safety cams on that fight don't give it out we're fighting right there with you and speaking of school zone safety I have to shout out our Mazen

school crossing guards. Thank you thank you. And then Moreno's. I've mentioned this I have had this discussion before. I when I was the PRESIDENT Presently neighborhood Association there were some

traffic deaths that happened during that time back in 39 there was a pedestrian that was killed in the crosswalk to close a sunken gardens I don't know if you'll remember that we have the bicyclists

that was killed by. Only notes. I actually sent an email detailing and at that time I send it to our reps at the state level. You know a lot of money goes into the effort of improving design I

education but there is no serious penalty for drivers who killed pedestrians. It took mothers against drunk drivers. To give the dui statute teeth. Took a lot of time. The reason for that is because

our vehicular homicide statute requires practice this and a lot of times you can't prove directed to recklessness and those scenarios and so. I am throwing this out there so you all know your

advocates in this space this is not something City Council can do because this is at the state level. But look in Massachusetts, they have a misdemeanor homicide by motor vehicle. We had that in

Massachusetts. That's. Is just another tool in the tool box. Because then basically it gives people the. Knowledge that I knew something that scare listen. I kill someone there is going to be a

serious penalty that person that killed that. Woman buy something gardens. A failure to yield the right-of-way citation. It wasn't even a misdemeanor. So I'm throwing that out there for the advocates

because the reality is in that space. I think there probably is something that can be done. To put some more penalties and some more teeth doesn't happen here happens at the state level. But thank you

all for the hard work that you do and for breaking the advocacy for the pedestrians and making sure that our streets are safer. So thank you. Okay. Next up we have the one and this is the student

ambassador program students presentation. I believe they've time thing is here and you will provide a short introduction. Thank you all afternoon council members twice in one day, I'm the luckiest guy

in Saint Pete. So today I had the privilege of bringing that to you our student ambassadors who traveled to talk about Japan. This year as you all know, and we were able to restart the program with

City Council support after the pandemic we sent 3 students from Saint Pete high schools to talk about sun truly as ambassadors to represent our longest standing sister city relationship and is part of

that program. They give to Council an update on their experience. I share what they learned in talk him out too so I MISS My great privilege to introduce celebrating him, Alice Chandler and cold

Landers are 2026 student ambassadors for their presentation. Thank you thank you. Thank you good afternoon City Council. Thank you for having us and before we get started we wanted to first introduce

ourselves, I'm least good afternoon can counsel I'm Cole and news in afternoon in l a and we had some thank You's so first of all to the St. Petersburg. So 2 spinoffs the St. Petersburg folk for

society we wanted to thank the executive director, Stephanie chill. We did a ton of the sign behind the scenes work for this program on the city side of things we really want to thank David Thompson

and for all of his work that he did he really helped us a lot and even though they are here to hear it. We really want to thank the city officials and host families and talk about too who make this

exchange possible every year. Okay so first we're going to give a brief student introduction. So hi, my name is Alice, I'm a senior at St. Petersburg high school's ib program. I live in Saint Pete my

entire life with my family and it's just little facts about me some hobbies I love learning new languages. I love running cross country and track and field I love playing music I play a couple

different instruments and I love traveling. And then I'm gonna talk a little bit about my experience in the program. So. I first participate in this program actually some middle schooler. I tend to

Thurgood Marshall fundamental middle school and we've made a video to send to our sister city Middle School in talking lots in Japan and we even received a reply video back in I was very touched by

the experience from a young age, especially I was touched by the English that was spoken by the middle schoolers and talk about 1213 year-olds who are speaking English. More or less as fluently as I

did I speak some Spanish home and in school. But obviously Japanese or English going from either this language is way harder and when I heard about the high school program at a young age I was touched

I knew that I wanted to do it and I decided that my way into the program would be learning Japanese. So this year marks 5 years consecutively of setting Japanese for me in so talk about who is really

life changing experience for me is it allowed me to participate in an immersion and I learned so much from the people around me on the trip and the memories that I mean I'm going to keep with me for

the rest of my life in language skills that I picked up. I'm Cole again, I'm also a senior in the ib program at St. Petersburg high school like Alice. I really like to travel that's something my

parents have given me the opportunity to do to do from a very young age. And I'm also an amateur photographer lot of my photos are featured on the slides and I doblins studying ancient history from

time to time. My experience in Japan was amazing the experience was definitely different than anything I've ever had here. But there's nothing that I would change about it. In Japan. We did go around

less with the kids given they were still in school. But I shop Burns says if you saw and best use on. We're super friendly super accommodating and by the end we talked to them about everything. They

did what they could to make anything happen during our free time if we wanted to go to the store if you wanted to get ice stream go to malls. And I really meant a lot to us. So as someone interested

in ancient history, this was a great experience and lots of our itinerary was going to gardens, I visited shrines with my host family shoe Ma and castles with his parents and that was super

interesting to see and allow me to explore massive interest of mine and kind of learn the intentionality behind lots of the structures there and see what it all meant. Again I'm ella I'm a senior at

Northeast high school and I've lived in Saint Pete my entire life, I'm interested in many things such as art photography and fashion. I'm part of my schools, journalism in your book club and I'm

captain of the track and field team outside of school and to hang out with my friends and volunteering and staying active. From my experience I wrote a little bit originally heard about the trip to

talk about it a family friend. Previously under previous participant as well. She brought up how it was an amazing an eye-opening trip and I was urged to apply by her. I was nervous at first because

of my minimal travel experience. But in the end I decided to apply and looking back on it now I'm very glad that I did during my time in Japan I was treated to such extreme amounts of kindness and

today I will highlight my memories made in Japan. Thank you. So now we have some food I like 3 guys to enjoy so we all love Japanese food and it definitely held a special significance for all of us in

talking lawsuit. And we have all these photos are meal that on the trip and we all have a special significance so not only was the food delicious but it meant something to us for me food's been a way

for me to practice for a cab you Larry in share about American culture in a casual way when we had the opportunity to attend a Japanese high School for 2 days. I participate in the cooking club there

at the bottom right photo is a photo of me with my club members as they taught me how to cook a traditional Japanese sweet and it was an opportunity for me to practice the language in a way that I've

never had an experience with before it's not something you find in a textbook and it became a way for me to talk about what we eat at home too like in our cooking club we put red sweet beans on it and

I was like oh we never eat this home I shared with them the kind of stuff we have you know they don't have quite as many colorful sweets to so I talked about the food dyes we have over here too. It

was it great way to exchange culture. And out of all the places. I've visited Japan has some of the best food and one of the things that makes it so special is the way that it's presented as shown in

most of the photos it's presented in a small to style. So you have. Rice in a bowl you have protein in a ball and then other side dishes and this is just different from American normally we put

everything in one big play even family style meals, they're not so much set style they're more different dishes altogether. And that honestly makes them you know so much more enjoyable. At least over

there in MAY to go a lot. A minute stretch out and it made the conversations better so I was able to ask the shopper nuns. What this food was and kind of talk to him about each individual item instead

of just guessing. For me food was a very big connector for me my host family. I think one of my favorite memories with my host family was walking around the grocery stores in Japan. playing out if

there were similar items that we had here in America. So my host sister would point out an item and I we have that are we don't have that and it was just a very fun way to connect with her and her

family. Okay and then now we're going to talk about our home state siblings in our individual experiences with them a little bit. So for me my home's, the sisters names, Rico, Rick and I hit it off

from the very beginning by the time I actually landed in Japan, we've been messing messaging each other calling daily and despite only known each other for like a month or 2 now I genuinely sick call

Rico one of my best friends in Japan. She acted as a tutor friend and guide through any and all special 60 situations even though I was looking for language immersion, none of her family speaking

English was a difficult situation. The trip wasn't perfect there are definitely hard times just like they were good times. So I really relied on her but she never minded and she went out of her way to

make sure all my dreams came true when I was in Japan, a little personal anecdote was when you're on the phone for one of the first times she asked what I want to do in Japan and I told her I want to

buy a Komodo and she looked to she she started laughing and she was like Alice kimonos us that's going to cost you $3,000. And it's the 5 pieces you're going to sweat so much I was like ok, maybe not

a kimono so even though I couldn't that float on the bottom right is really special to me because I'm wearing cada which is the summer version. Rico took me on a train to ok a month a neighboring

prefecture like pretty much a different state for them and she took me you caught a rental place for the day where we got to dress up and then we walked around additional town. She said completely

surprised me so mention to I wanted to try she made it have and she was like my partner in crime and on all of our what late night adventures because in Japan, it is safer to teenage girls to walk

around the streets, the night a little bit different. She was my partner we want all kinds of 7.11 runs exploring. And I genuinely MISTER Every single day. Why homestay sister was kick o ne and I

adore her and her family very much. I learned so much from her in my time with my time with her in Japan and mean her connected immediately. I think the first portion of getting off the plane and

everything was very nerve wracking but mean her connected. Just our car ride from the airport to her home. One of my best memories with Connie and her family was the night that I included I introduce

them to just dance we stayed up to 01:00am dancing around the living room after tying ourselves out we sat on the couch and took turns playing our favorite songs. In the huge news it was also a huge

connector for me and her family. And a couple days into the trip. Well at the mall, my family, my host family, surprised me with caught as well. The next day was given the chance to wear it out and we

got all just stop and traveled hours to a beautiful on son. The uconn to a gifted me is a symbol of the love and respect I have for my host family and I will never forget how special they made me

feel. And so my experience there is. Honestly way too much to talk about so I will keep it brief. I was the only student lucky enough to have they homes a sibling and the difference having that came

back so I got 2 different experiences. And chum is food was definitely big connector, most of my photos I have are around the table with his family or eating food out and that was that meant a lot to

me so you can never MISS A family meal in the soft okay household and all of our conversation happened before or after meals. Rice shared photos about my life and they shared photos about theirs or

even their school test rates. We cook screen and I went to the store with his family every time where they would get me a new different fun drink to try and keep it stocked in their house in case I

liked it. And eventually. We definitely grew closer. I didn't have a show he came back and that was a challenge Shohei was different than Shima and I had to learn how to adopt to that and one of the

things that helped me and Shohei go closer where walks together around the city. There's so many fun things to share about Saint Pete, especially involving this program downtown there's the pelicans

at you and different piece of art works. I actually wrote a presentation on to give to them there and I show them all around those. And even swirls they don't have schools in Japan. So Shohei would

see one pointed out every time go to take a photo and I really enjoyed those little walks with him and that was how we grew closer together. So hosting was super fun and definitely something that I

will cherish forever. Okay now we're each going to talk about the program's impact. It impacted us personally. So I'm going to talk about cultural awareness. I believe it's essential to continue. This

is just this program with talk about to Japan because of the shared understanding that it creates so on the American side of the program. Rico had the opportunity to me my family, my friends neighbors

and countless Saint Pete citizens who wanted to ask Rico questions who she wanted to greet. She got closer to it. And in Japan. I think it's just as important to promote culture understanding of Saint

Pete Florida in the us as a whole. So there's an unfortunate stereotype that I'm sure we're all aware of that permeates our country of the ugly American. Someone who is able to appreciate a culture

outside of their own. Some of my favorite moments on the trip were when I felt like I could break that stereotype when I finish my City Council presentation in Japanese and I could see how happy they

were to receive a presentation from an American in their language when I could talk to my classmates at school and I could say oh I love that song. I listen to that song all the time and they're like

what. And it was really fun to connect with people in a way that they didn't know an American could connect with them. Demonstrating the cultural diversity present in Saint Pete in the open mindedness

of our citizens is essential to the is a central to this program and doing that for the residents of our sister city was truly special experience. Outside of all the amazing photos that I got to take

on the trip. I think character building was definitely the biggest highlight for me. So has high schoolers we are incredibly lucky to have been given the chance to participate in such a program and it

definitely wasn't easy to earn our spot we had countless interviews and essays to write and those were a part of this program that contributed just as much of the character building as our time that.

So this program is huge for character building there were 2 main aspects of it that helped me there that help you with and those with the ability to adopt and be comfortable in new situations and

building my communication skills. So Japan is different from the us and we had to take that in stride we had to going to school there living with a host family. And just interacting with of the

different citizens in the city. Obviously they don't speak English that was something we had to kind of use translators for or just learn the new words, ourselves and on top of that because the

language is completely different communications at various forms. Part of that was our body language and also just how we looked and presented ourselves to other people. So I contact is huge using our

hands to point out things or just to express like our emotions it was definitely big and I brought that all back here to the different clubs that I run a school I'm able to recruit more members this

year because I've learned how to communicate with people that I wasn't originally familiar with. And I would like to talk about personal development. The program has allowed me to experience something

I would have never been able my own be able to travel to another country at such a young age is so beneficial and eye-opening I was given the opportunity to be part of another culture I am and become

independent and make new connections that will last a lifetime. I'm beyond grateful. Thank you for listening to our presentation and thank you again to Stephanie and David for making all possible. And

the city as well. Thank you so much, thank you councilmember Harding thank you chair. Graduations a 3 d what a neat program. First, Colin least you'll know Matt Harding yes, let's just say. It's just

say it was just the 35 of us just friends hanging out and her dad wasn't here. You know that guy is anything you want to tell us about her. I think anything just anything thing for the city record.

Our girl smart girl like what you did there. Congratulations for stuff you got the opportunity because of of who you are and I mean that from the plant selection. I mean that from the point of use

like in the program. It and these are the kind of stand out things that the 3 of you are going to do going forward. And I can tell you that that that that I. We don't we don't normally speak for each

other that's not the way it works up here and try it one time I think you'll find all of us up here, we're extremely proud of you we're proud of the fact that that that you when you represent the city

of St. Petersburg and then you represent the city of St. Petersburg here, I'm glad you had the chance for the experience but I'm more glad after listening to you that these are the emissaries that

that we have out talking to people about our cities and graduations and thank you for going. Thank you Sir. Thank you councilmember Givens the chair. You also include the 2 a. I had the opportunity as

you've heard before of traveling to talk monsoon representing this city as a student ambassador in 2008. And that was the honor of a lifetime. I think it was yellow who said it I would have never been

able to travel overseas this little boy from South Saint Pete because I can afford it for one. But I also didn't really know there was a world beyond Saint Pete because I've never really been in that

was a cultural experience in itself. It really exposed me to a world beyond that which I had known for 17 years. And I want you to know that you all are equipped, and you are prepared you are ready to

lead because that's what the pandas to use it bills you you said it yourself call it creates leaders that professional development that you get that cultural competency that is developed that is

something that you can carry for your whole life and those skills are transferable regardless of what field you decide to go into life is all about adapting as you said in learning to assimilate

because you're going to meet people from all different walks of life all different cultures everywhere that you go, and it's about learning how to live amongst them in peace and so again

congratulations. Thank you all for representing St. Petersburg so well in the might of gotten. Thank you chair. Thank you. Before you go I want to echo my colleague's comments and I congratulate you

first for choosing to be an ambassador and then getting selected to be an ambassador and a bully representing the city of St. Petersburg and really trying to go further than that tried a cheddar the

stereotypes of Americans in Japan. So that's that's something that we have to be thankful for and showing that you we are Korea could carry us right. We do want to learn about other cultures learn the

just and so I'm curious and I want to hear from you all when you eat started the program and you were selected. The you have an opportunity to talk to other students before who had gone through the

program and then the other question I have for you is are you gonna pay it forward and pass on your knowledge to those children in the future who are thinking about becoming studying at passengers, so

whoever wants to answer. The person that introduced us. She gets closer to the microphone. So we can hear you sorry about that you're fine she had an amazing time in Japan and she told me all about it

and so every time that I went over. And hung out with her it was her and her mom that would always tell me about it. Nearly all you should really do this program. And so I'm really grateful that she

really encourage me to do it because she knows me and she knows that I am a very nervous person so even standing up here right now it's something that I am very proud of myself for doing and so even

traveling to another country again something I'm extremely proud of myself for doing on my own and with these 2 missing students as well. I have already talked to me a journalism teacher about putting

an ad in our school newspaper for this program because I would love to see some of my younger friends doing this program. Even some of them asked me for my trip it was like oh what could be going into

because they do have just a variety of friends and sometimes I get just mixed up in their grades. I asked and fences like oh well if you're going into your senior that summer after each a year you

should really do this program. And so if they show interest I have informed them and told them about it. And then just add on to already said. She's got a great connection and a great story that she

just shared about her involvement in the program as far as paying it forward. I can speak I think collectively what I say we all fun and paying it forward and we're all excited to get back just like

the past and investors gave to us in one thing that we're really excited to help with to us. The etiquette trainings that we had to go through duckett language and one thing I care very deeply about.

He's seen other kids who are excited to learn Japanese, even though maybe it's not the most practical. I do similar things Spanish my school. I love seeing citizens in Saint Pete kids in Saint Pete

who want to learn other languages and I'm so happy when I get a chance to practice with them to mentor them. Tip, spread that kind of excitement and that really like special skill of being able to

connect with somebody in a personal way, and it's something that I can't wait to pay forward 2 with the next group of student buses. Thank you so in my heart smile. That's what we want we clearly

picked the right ambassadors for our city and the fact that you're going to find the next ambassadors to continue to spread the message of the city of St. Petersburg and and then come back in and tell

us what their experience was that's exactly what we want from the program and you've done a fantastic job so thank you very much. The next presentation is a sacred lands preservation education

presentation. I believe councilmember Curtis this was your item. Thank you very much, MADAM Chair. There's obviously been a lot of talk about this piece of property over the last couple of months and

so just wanted to invite. David Anderson to give us just a brief update, I'm gonna bury the lead there some fun stuff happening. There there's continuously fun stuff, happening there, but even more so

coming up and so just very excited for everything that's going on. At this site. It's just it's just a lot of cool stuff and I thought it was time for an update so David thank you so much for joining

us and looking forward to this update. Thank you MADAM Chair. Thank you good afternoon the afternoon and MADAM Chair. Thank you councilmember to send a thank you to all the City Council members for

giving me some time today. I appreciate you representing all the wonderful district of Petersburg and I'm a proud St. Petersburg residents. I have a what I consider a huge announcement and that is

that the Smithsonian is coming to St. Petersburg sacred lands preservation and education is receiving a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. The National Museum of the

American Indian in Washington dc called Americans. It will be at our site for 8 weeks from Feb. 13th 2027 until 4/10/2027. And for those who have not heard of sacred lands preservation and education,

I'm the board PRESIDENT My name is David Anderson and it's up property a historic property in Saint Pete ancient history like Kohl's interest and. That goes back a 1000 years and so a lot of folks are

less ap as a 1000 years of history, but it certainly does. I'm a member of the Andersen family, an we've Stewart did this private property at the jungle Prada site since 1940. The jungle Prada site is

on the National Register of Historic Places as a 20 acre site that was part of a Native American talk about the village for 600 years from 1000 ad to about 1600 a d my slide in the bottom right is an

artist's conception by an artist named Matt Perry of the village. The portion outlined is my family's property, the the property, we know is sacred lands. It contains the Plaza and the main Midden and

the Plaza was like the town square for the village, the main Midden is what I call the best preserved Native American shelled mound on the entire Gulf coast of Florida. And I feel quite confident in

that it is 900 feet long 300 feet wide 23 feet above the average high tide and it is covered in 10's of thousands of ancient lightning will enforce conch shells as well as fragments of shell pottery

there have been several archaeological digs over the years at the most recently in the 1990's people from the central Gulf Coast archaeological society as well as aware, the Alliance for we niland

archaeological research and education, a lot of the artifacts are being kept and studied at the lab at Weeden Island, currently the picture on the top right is what the mountain looks like today. The

shells you see are there. They weren't brought by my family there 500 to a 1000 years old. They were food, they were tools for the talk about the Indians and many of the show's degrees for tools are

still clearly. Intact as such on the surface of the jungle promise site. It's also the reported a landing site of the 1528 Narvaez expedition who there is great evidence for I'm sure you've heard this

a previous meetings as well from my colleague Jim mcdougal, but the who other there's a lot of evidence that suggests that it was the land to place it up or Boca ciega Bay at a talk about the village

and that matches the description for our sights. Completely and no matter what we think of on Philo Narvaez as a human the keys to door. Along with the expedition were as Stephanie go who was the

first person known person of African descent to explore what is now the United States he was from Morocco and in fact just some the national attention our site is capable of getting to just that I've

had the consul general from Morocco in New York City come to visit because he wanted to see the place where Stephanie Cofer set foot in the United States and the epic story of Alvar Nunez cabeza de

vaca who landed in St. Petersburg and along with 3 other walked from St. Petersburg Florida all the way to the Pacific coast of Mexico over 8 years is considered the first Overland exploration of what

is now the United States by Europeans in history and it started here in our city. That's a general partner sites also heavily involved in a 1920's, West Saint Pete history, the jungle Prada building

is the namesake it was built in 1924 and unnamed jungle Prado originally after the Paseo del Prado in Havana Cuba. It was a shopping mall back in the 1920's, according to Walter Fuller, the first

modern strip mall in St. Petersburg and there really was a speakeasy they're called the gangplank Walter Fuller wrote about in his book St. Petersburg and its people by Walter p Fuller which came out

one year before water Fuller died so it sort of his tell all book and he admits to accepting a large shipment of whiskey and selling it and tea cups at the gangplank speakeasy although evidence that

Al Capone was there is scant to non-existent so I don't have any proof that Al Capone ever visited, but I have pretty good evidence that a Babe Ruth in some very famous jazz music musicians came to

play at the speakeasy and this property has been up Stewart and preserved by my family since 1940 the Anderson family and in 2001 my parents, my my mother sitting here started sacred lands

preservation and education as a way to enlist the public in helping to preserve the property and also to share it with the public and help cover the costs of wear and tear from visitation to the site

and on managing the amount, we're still happy except lots of visits from archaeologists and other other dignitaries want to come visit the site. What we do there is I do guided history tours 5 days a

week in 37. I started a small llc a registered with the city of Saint Pete called discover Florida tours so I consider myself the poor partner sacred lands but I offer a guide history tours. We have

school groups visiting. The 4th graders are learning about talk about the Indians in public school now so we get to 4th grade visits to the mound, I've had several the local schools come to visit. We

do have an archaeological Museum with some artifacts from the site. We lost our original a museum display cases during hurricane Helene were managed to salvage the artifacts have them professionally

cleaned by the archaeologist Weeden Island and we were given some glass display cases from the Delta McClellan glass studio to show the artifacts but we are back online showing artifacts. We just

installed a native plant garden with a grant from Florida humanities and the mosaic corporation we installed a indigenous people's garden with plans that were food medicine or shelter for Native

Americans and we had an opening events on Aug. First of this this year 2026. So the picture on the top right is doctor Anna Dixon and anthropologists from usf who was one of our 3 speakers at the

opening of the indigenous people's garden on the bottom left is Dennis Harrison who every NOVEMBER presents the Dana Shawnee or Iroquois Thanksgiving address at our site that's going to be a really

interesting a ceremony we have coming up in NOVEMBER. It the piece of pottery is one of our display cases that's one of the nicest pieces of pottery that we've recovered from the site that's on

display and then in the bottom right is one of the school groups that I've lived there and I do want to say speaking that we have an event coming up Original nations day which is just this coming Mon.

And I will be giving a free tour of the archaeological site for anyone interested in coming to visit on Mon. In the evening. I think we've got that set for 6 6, 6, 30. So we we all have ongoing events

but the thing I'm here to tell you about today to talk to you all about today that I'm so excited for is called the Americans exhibit and it is offered through a program called museums on Main Street

from the Smithsonian which is meant to take Smithsonian quality Museum exhibits to smaller communities or underserved communities. St. Petersburg is a big city, but we are a relatively small

organization preserving what I consider to be a very important historic site and so thankfully. The Smithsonian recognize that as did Florida humanities and so we got a grant from those 2

organizations to post this exhibit and offer programming around it. So it will be arriving in early FEBRUARY and will be setting it up and not to to cut to the end but we will be having a a vip like

sneak preview the night before open to the public and you're all invited to come check out the exhibit a night early to see what it looks like. I'm very excited about it others us a few things I

wanted to note about it one. I suppose is that the Native Americans that we have at our site where the existing in our state that built the mountains we call the token Bada and today we only have 2

federally recognized Indian tribes in Florida. We have the Seminole tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee tribe of Indians of Florida and those are the 2 and they MAY have descended from that Okavango

but the talk about over the people living here when those Europeans landed, so in the Spanish arrived they wrote down there were calusa people in southwest, Florida and Tequesta and Jada on me to come

Bay and the central Florida where the Ocala and quo in the Panhandle where the apalachee and around Tampa Bay where the talk about us or says the talk about this site. The museums on Main Street as a

national touring exhibit so it's not just Florida, specific. It covers a native the Native American experience from a national perspective. So there's panels on the trail of tears Pocahontas on the

first Thanksgiving on the Battle of little Bighorn and a big display on how Native American culture is all over our culture. But yet we don't always recognize that these are still modern people who

still currently exist and so they they still leave their descendants are still with us so we are inviting members of the Seminole tribe and the Miccosukee tribe to come be part of our presentations

during the exhibit and we'll be doing something called Smithsonian Sundays. So every Sun. During the exhibit will have up. Presentation or or something the on offer for the public involving some of

our friends with the Miccosukee tribe of Indians of Florida also some archaeological guest speakers as well and it will be free for members of the Petersburg a public to come and visit on Sundays.

There will be a 2, 4, option for the archaeological site but the exhibit will be free for everybody on Sundays recalling that Smithsonian Sundays and I feel like my job as as the director of sacred

lands is too take this national touring exhibit and apply it to our local community here in St. Petersburg and to incorporate our local tribe of Indians and to that effect the Seminoles have given us

like some materials to hand out at the site during these a bit and I hope you'll stay tuned for all the programming that we have planned around the exhibits which will open to the general public on

Feb. The 13th and again will be free on Sundays by the way that's me in the picture setting it up at the first location. It is it should just about be leaving the Amelia Island history museum on

fernandina Beach that was the first stop for the exhibit. It's going from there to the Clewiston historical society to a Fort Myers and then to sacred lands preservation and St. Petersburg and finally

this is my my last slide I think yeah you're invited to City Council vip opening event Smithsonian Sun. We free admission that the programming for kids and adults in addition to the Smithsonian

Sunday's I will be asking school groups if they want to come for free as well and see the exhibit so anytime there is a a group that wants to see the exhibit I will try to facilitate that at no charge

so I will still be offering might guide history tours. For this exhibit the time it's here that will be a free thing becoming do and just big thanks to the Miccosukee tribe of Indians of Florida for

helping us big thanks to Florida. Humanities for the museum's on Main Street program. And a lot of boring patients around and I'm just super excited to. Present to City Council that the Americans it

is coming the Smithsonian. It's coming to St. Petersburg and we're really proud to be able to host them and I hope that you all come check out the exhibit well it's well it's here in town. Thank you

now oh yeah. Well do you think should reduction approach every to distort. If you can go to that podium place yeah I can hear you can read it, but. But here's the here's that I don't hold on a second,

you know the problem is it wrong to double check. Yeah. Is that the proclamation from the mayor is it from the mayor. It's from them where. Mayor need to read it on. Yes, oh okay, well our our plan

was treated at the original nations day event we're having but. It sounds like maybe there is a plan to do this at another time we can take it to another time, thank you that's fine. Thank you, thank

you, thank you for issuing a proclamation to the mayor and thank you to City Council for facilitating that thank you. Thank you and thank you so much for the work that you do coup for the West. The

side of St. Petersburg to have a traveling Museum. Specifically this Missoni and going and doing their exhibit over there from Feb. 13th through 4/10/1700 Park Street correct. Yeah that's the parking

address our family home is 1620 Park But the parking address is that general product they are by a city park and on that map I showed part of the historic site is on the public city Park and then it's

also on our joining private property as well so we will be inviting people onto our property but the parking addresses the us as the general put it in r I 79 approaching or threat Street. Thank you

thank you very much. So next up we have a legal item I want a resolution approving the settlement the lawsuit Greg planning versus city of St. Petersburg and we have MISTER Mccollum here who has been

patiently waiting. Thank you Council good evening, everybody. I'm here tonight. The proposed settlement on a worker's compensation washout settlement. It is a settlement involving a former fire safety

training chief by the name of Gregory lanning who retired from the city back in 2009. This is as many of you are familiar, this is a cardiac presumption case which is a benefit afforded to first

responders. The short. Version of this is that the future medicals from MR. Landing. Exceed $80,000 in the estimated permanent total disability as well in excess of 450,000 for rather significant

exposure working with outside counsel, this is a case we've been trying to resolve for number of years Weaver's ended up with a settlement of $115,000 pending Council approval and were seeking your

approval here to the rule. The motion a second clerk if you can open an issue for boating council members please enter your votes. In the Depression council members that voted clerk please telling us

vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda item I one passes unanimously. Thank you thank you to everybody on this we should always. Next up we have to be one it's for to bfmtv that councilmember

guard us. Thank you MADAM Chair I am respectfully requesting or for all of the budget finance and taxation committee or other relevant committee for a discussion on the costs for the sidewalk payment

in lieu program in a move approval. Thank you. We have a motion a second clerk and you can open a machine for voting. Nobody voted, yes, it's not it's still on the last item. Its stock. There you go

now. What we do. There goes council members please enter your votes. Now pressing council members voted clerk please tell announce the vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda item g one passes

unanimously. Next up we have key to its a referral to a tell you t in this councilmember Givens. Thank you chair, just a little back story on After what's going on with the Morgan I've had some

conversations on with the Saint the tenants union a couple of other organizations and constituents in my district who have concerns about code violations on properties as well as being able to access.

An active listing of Housing that is the bill within the city of St. Petersburg and so what we're looking to do with this new business items to have a discussion. Around rental listings for the city

looking at possibly expanding our code violations search database that's online to also What Jacksonville does which is code violations and evictions and after having conversation with legal and

administrative Foster it seems that this is something that is legally permissible and it's a timely conversation because per minister to foster this is something that they're working on anyway. So I

feel that this is the right time to bring this conversation board so that is why I'm bringing this up so without further ado. Respectfully referral to the housing land use and Transportation Committee

or other relevant Committee for discussion on the establishment of a voluntary rental registry listing property owners rental rates and availability and with that I move approval. Motion second by

sure Floyd. We know this conversation a couple years of one times and 22 yeah okay, so it was like year yeah first year so that's why I don't remember yeah, yeah it was tricky conversation. So the

word with you. Okay we have a motion a second clerk of you can help and he wrote in council members present in that uprising council members voted clerk please telling announcement. And chair the

motion to approve the agenda item g 2 passes unanimously. Thank you. Next up we have open are there any speakers. We have no and then on on zoom, ok we close up and form and now we go to

announcements. Actually have a question for either vice chair Floyd or the share of hers. I had a meeting with Sierra Club. And they mentioned the potential of the next meeting bringing something. The

same day to the meeting and so I want to make sure we're on the same page because of something like that is happening. I want to give everyone the opportunity to I want to understand where you all

stand on it and I also want to give the opportunity for everyone to they don't like last-minute things calming that make Kathy people you know by surprise, especially if they can prepare for it so

that's the reason I'm bringing it up in the sunshine. Okay councilmember gathered. Thank you I had a meeting with a client and maven earlier this week to look at what we were going to bring forward

for the continuation of the items last time. And it is their intention. I don't think we have it yet I was met with Noah sent earlier today, but it is their intention to bring a couple of resolutions

forward. One concerning the nature and all policies is what they're looking at and then the other is for 2 committees and so pending those resolutions being in draft form in the backup for the

committee's consideration because those are kind of time sensitive with the referendum ballot question coming up we would like to if those pass committee as written with very little at its to be able

to bring those upstairs Sun. Okay. Thank you, yeah. Vice chair Floyd. And I think councilmember governor pretty much covered it, I mean I'll give you this. When advocates have come to me and asked for

this kind of thing to be done I've exactly what I think the hurdles will have to overcome our and you know it's my item but this is up to the chair of the committee and the tariffs I Council hospital

told them so if it's something people feel comfortable with the future, but it's not I think that's been it clearly as well. I just wanted to make sure because I know I I think you're making their

rounds and I want to I want to first put city Council on notice as to this happening because it's next week. And I want to see how you all felt about it I'm flexible about it, but I want to give

council members the ability to either I know that that's coming if they want to go to the her is meeting to watch it if they want to make sure they review the materials if they want to watch the

meeting but it it's something that I thought would be important because what happens sometimes is we don't know this is happening until that day happens and we don't have time to prepare and sometimes

only the people in the committee MAY know and so I think the more time that we have to think about it I understand ers are you know obviously the vote in NOVEMBER and all that and that's what kind of

is playing into this. And so. I'm flexible with it, but I want to make sure I heard from both of you and from other committee members and the other council members know that are not on the committee.

That this is kind of happening if they haven't had that conversation with this year. So. Councilmember fix Anderson think you could question thank you for bringing it to you because I did see with

that was happening and I wasn't sure. I think I understand the sensitivity of the turnaround But based on conversations that they MAY be having with individual council members now I'm not sure because

I'm not owners young. So I'm not really sure what our conversations would be. It says we won't be able to speak 2 members of the Sierra Club between hers and council meeting what MAY possibly change

from those Council meeting so I'll have to be one of those one of the ones that actually watch hers. So I guess it really isn't really prudent for me to have a lot of conversation before Ian but okay

thing que. I mean it's better than finding out that so I thought that I bring it up. They brought it to my attention because I'm chair and I thought it would be prudent to make sure that I tried to

the whole City Council has early as they could which is this meeting because I don't know how that's going to turn out in hl up so okay. I mean sorry hers alright, hers. We were talking about as Elsa

h l a. I just want to be very clear as the chair of hers I have made 0 promise of anyone what is coming up right years and when it's coming right if it even passes committee right and has. These are

theirs. 3 resolutions, potentially one of which I have seen a draft of I haven't even seen all 3 of them as the chair yet and I know that City Council needs its process to be able to really dig into

those things and make sure that they are something worthy of bringing up here at this point. full disclosure there are no promises but I will say that staff is working very hard to make sure they

bring something forward and it's my hopes that it is something that we find as the committee that has value to go ahead and move forward, but time will tell. Councilmember gabbard you know you

mentioned that I can I will share that when I had the meeting I was very surprised at the speed of all the things that were happening or they're trying to get happened. And end and considering that we

have there are lots of moving parts and there is language in and what's gonna be decided so. I know hers has to figure out. What's happening on the Opry supposing anything but I also wanted to make

sure that we all kind of knew this because I don't know what's going to happen. Thu., so I want to be fair to everyone and I don't know how I am going you know I don't we don't have the documents we

don't we don't know what has been the fight it so I'm not. Sanger promising anything or anybody saying anything but if this is just for regular just everyone's knowledge. Councilmember Curtis. I hope

we added contacts to you know they're at this point it's just kind of fly I and then we'll see how this all plays out. Okay great. I don't see anyone else wanting to speak, thank you all for a

wonderful. Meeting that's right raise not a lot I mean I should have your I mean councilmember Curtis Ali this to you about that. I'm sorry yeah, go ahead. I mean I guess thank you, MADAM Part part.

The baseball player in me doesn't want to put the cart before the horse but obviously a big series win for the rays against the New York Yankees finishing up the series last night in New York. I stay

up to 8 watching the game. But they will play Game one alcs here in St. Petersburg on Mon. Night. Game one 2 I'm not sure if they've scheduled one yet Erste to I mean, but Mon. Night alcs and we'll

see who we play will either play the guardians of the White Sox either one of them come get it the men do raise up.