Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Petersburg public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
16 issues with low priority
Historic Gas Plant cemetery archaeology
Council initiated a local historic landmark application for the historic Greenwood Cemetery in Roser Park.
Honoring Rev. Watson L. Haynes II
Council moved to name the Enoch Davis Center auditorium for the late civil-rights-era leader. Family and the Urban League backed it; some longtime friends argued a bigger tribute — a building or street — is warranted, and noted St. Pete College plans its own naming.
City Vehicle Usage and Monitoring
After the DoorDash incident involving a city vehicle, council referred a policy and monitoring-technology review to committee — but some members see it as an HR matter, not a council one.
Albert Whitted Airport Hangar Replacement
A resident noted two years have passed since 32 hangars were destroyed, urging faster completion of the no-cost concrete hangar replacement agreement.
Lanning workers' compensation settlement
The city settled with a retired fire training chief for $115,000 in a cardiac presumption case, avoiding more than $530,000 in estimated exposure.
CREST flood mitigation workforce training support
Council formally backed a push for federal funding to expand the CREST program, which trains workers in flood mitigation and home elevation — relevant in a flood-prone city.
Tree canopy and green infrastructure
Kathy Harrelson urged the city to prioritize protecting existing shade trees before building sidewalks, and to revive the urban forestry tree inventory.
Referendum ballot order
The council restored its original ballot order — GO bond question first — for the November 3 municipal election after the Supervisor of Elections agreed to honor it.
Rowdies future at Al Lang Stadium
Council approved a one-year operating agreement; Gabbard pressed for a longer-term commitment to keep the Rowdies in St. Pete.
Sanitation worker safety
A referral will take up sanitation department safety procedures and rear-view cameras on collection trucks.
Hometown Haulers recognition
The city's post-Helene program paying local truck owners to haul storm debris — 5,382 hauls and $1.6 million to local businesses — won a statewide innovation award, and haulers got Distinguished Citizen Awards.
Council attendance and civility
Figgs-Sanders and Harting publicly called out a recent missed vote and low constituent-meeting hours, invoking the newly adopted council policies manual's attendance and civility standards.
Woodlawn Park license for Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League was slated to get a 36-month, nearly-free lease ($36 total) on the Woodlawn Park Main Building at 1450 16th Street North — a win for youth programming.
St. Pete Pier Marketplace kiosk expansion
Driscoll wants more kiosks at the Pier Marketplace to support small businesses; the discussion goes to the Economic and Workforce Development Committee in July.
Bird Sanctuary Designation
St. Pete is now officially a bird sanctuary, protecting pelicans, ducks, herons and more — pending one final approval from the state wildlife commission in August.
City investment policy amendment
The finance team now has more flexibility in where overnight municipal funds are parked, including high-yield savings accounts — a small but real change to how the city earns on its cash.