Driscoll proposes creation of economic and workforce committee

A committee solely dedicated to reviewing economic and workforce development policies and projects may come to the forefront. 

The city currently has committees tasked with prioritizing housing, transportation, and budget items, among other topics, to ensure the city’s prosperity and sustainability goals. However, Council Chair Gina Driscoll highlighted a missing needed economic and workforce development committee – a committee other municipalities have established. 

“We are at a point of time in our city that if we do not focus on job creation and economic development, we are going to be a residential bedroom community [compared] to Tampa,” Driscoll said as she introduced her item to the board members Thursday. 

“We also want to make sure we are creating jobs that pay the bills for the people who live here,” she continued. 

Driscoll explained the city’s PS and I (public services and infrastructure) committee is backlogged with projects to review that would fall into this category, and establishing this new committee can carry some of that weight. 

According to the language in Driscoll’s proposed resolution, the committee would “address policies, plans and programs related to the vitality of the local economy, including but not limited to the creation and retention of jobs, attraction of new businesses and private investments, support of small businesses, incentive policies and growth of targeted industries.” 

It would also “work to advance St. Petersburg as a city with a healthy, diversified economy where businesses can locate, innovate, grow and prosper, and where residents have access to the accompanying job opportunities.” 

Several board members acknowledged the item as a beneficial solution, also noting how organizations such as the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corp., the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greenhouse and others are committed to bolstering the city’s economic engine. 

“I don’t want to be a bedroom community, but I also want to get input from the stakeholders before we create something like this to see if there’s something we are not doing and create the direction,” councilmember Copley Gerdes said. 

Driscoll said she’s communicated with groups, but did not have the support letters in hand to share with the councilmembers. 

“Committees show where our priorities are, and I’ve been thinking through this for months about economic and workforce development and what would be the right way to approach this,” voiced councilmember Ed Montanari, who serves as Chair of PS and I and fully supports Driscoll’s item. 

He, as well as Driscoll, shared insight from attending the National League of Cities event earlier this year, where local leaders congregated and discussed policies. 

Montanari gave the example of how Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has successfully prioritized economic development – which is evident as Miami booming with innovation and drawing global business interest – and St. Petersburg could replicate the same type of committee structure. 

“It was very clear we had something missing in our city,” Montanari said, reflecting on the NLC event. 

Councilmember Richie Floyd said he’s noticed the gap but also understands the hesitancy from councilmembers to immediately approve the item without further discussion. 

The councilmembers unanimously voted to defer to discussion to the Dec. 15 city council meeting to provide amble time to form a decision.