City officials explore avenues to increased crane safety

St. Petersburg officials unanimously agree that residents deserve more protection from falling tower cranes during extreme weather events. However, state preemption handcuffs those efforts.

Local lawmakers recently filed a bill that, if passed, would restore home rule over construction cranes. At a committee meeting Thursday morning, city council members instructed attorneys and administrators to draft a resolution supporting the state statute’s repeal.

Councilmember Gina Driscoll requested the discussion in Hurricane Milton’s immediate aftermath. The Category 3 storm’s 100 mph gusts caused the top of a massive tower crane to collapse into a neighboring office building downtown Oct. 9.

“People were scared, and I had to look them in the eye and say, ‘Right now, there is nothing we can do to protect you,’” Driscoll said. “And that is a really tough thing for a council member to have to do.”

Sen. Daryll Rouson and Rep. Lindsay Cross filed the bill that could negate state preemption. Don Tyre, city building official, noted the proposed legislation is broad and would allow any local government to regulate construction cranes.

While he called Senate Bill 346 a “great first step,” Tyre believes lawmakers should pass uniformed legislation that specifically allows for hurricane preparedness. He said the local proposal would create a “Wild West” scenario where every jurisdiction establishes varying regulations.

Construction lobbyists successfully influenced the 2012 statute that preempts local ordinances and specifically eliminates hurricane preparedness. However, Assistant City Attorney Michael Dema said state leadership “largely chose to ignore stepping into that regulatory role.”

Tyre succinctly said, “There isn’t any,” when Councilmember Richie Floyd asked what state regulations protect citizens from falling construction cranes.

Mayor Ken Welch (left) and John Catsimatidis, founder of the Red Apple Group, the Residences at 400 Central’s development firm, at a topping out ceremony in September 2024. Photo by Mark Parker.

The collapse

A significant section of a 500-foot-tall tower crane at the Residences at 400 Central, St. Petersburg’s tallest building, flew into an office complex bearing the law firm Johnson Pope’s signage. The damage resembled a bomb blast.

The building remains uninhabitable, and Johnson Pope recently sued the owner to terminate the firm’s lease. Construction at 400 Central resumed within a week.

The city helps developers and contractors secure construction sites about a week before a storm’s forecasted landfall. At an Oct. 8 emergency briefing, Mayor Ken Welch explained that crews must lower or remove tower cranes several days in advance due to the “specialized nature” of those operations.

He said that was not a “feasible solution” due to Milton’s rapid intensification. At the time, Tyre said 400 Central’s cranes could withstand 110 mph winds – nearly 40 mph less than the adjoining building.

Solutions?

Tyre said officials wouldn’t issue an emergency advisory regarding falling construction cranes until forecasts call for winds topping 100 mph. Driscoll noted they did not offer a public warning until about a day before Milton began battering the area, hindering evacuations.

She said a 92-year-old grandmother prepared to shelter in place at the Princess Martha assisted living facility – not in an evacuation zone – would “love to have more notice” that her life was potentially in danger.

“We had what, 3,000 units just downtown that had to be notified,” Driscoll continued. “They’re being told to go into a stairwell all of sudden, and it’s too late to go anywhere and make other plans.”

The damaged building remains uninhabitable, and at least one tenant believes it is beyond repair. Photo by Ashley Morales.

Liz Abernethy, planning and development director, said administrators have learned from Milton, and update their disaster operations plans annually. She said they will now identify at-risk cranes and offer residents more advanced notice of the potential fall radius.

James Corbett, city development administrator, agreed with Abernethy’s assessment and said officials would collect and share related information before hurricane season begins in June. However, he cautioned against issuing emergency notices before a storm’s path and intensity come into focus.

Corbett said officials must ensure residents don’t become desensitized to frequent notifications or unnecessarily move out of their homes. “The balance is pre-storm or as the storm approaches.”

City Administrator Rob Gerdes said the mayor’s office is working with Cross to help establish statewide rather than local regulations. Council Chair Copley Gerdes said St. Petersburg’s emergency preparation website should list construction sites, crane wind ratings and the potential fall radius.

“Everybody would have access to that at all times, and so, you wouldn’t be doing this over-desensitizing,” Gerdes said. “I don’t want to do that, either.”

The Public Services and Infrastructure Committee unanimously agreed to create a resolution that supports repealing and replacing the state statute that preempts local crane regulations without establishing an alternative. The full city council will vote on the measure at an upcoming meeting.