Environmental resiliency tops St. Pete’s legislative priorities

The City of St. Petersburg’s legislative agenda unsurprisingly focuses on storm recovery and environmental resilience in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes.

The draft document notes that Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged critical infrastructure, nearly 16,000 homes and hundreds of businesses. City Council members and lobbyists discussed the need to “build back stronger” at a Nov. 21 committee meeting.

Officials and their representatives will advocate for Resilient Florida grant funding, programs related to water quality and “future-proof” workforce training initiatives that support recovery efforts. David Thompson, director of government affairs for the city, said he would revise the agenda to include more specific requests before lawmakers meet in January.

“We expect, as we get further into our recovery process, we’ll find hurdles in state policies that are creating issues for us,” Thompson elaborated. “And we may see additional appropriations-related projects that we need to go after that we’re not aware of yet.”

Here are highlights from the city’s 2025 State Legislative Agenda:

Environment, Infrastructure, & Resilience

• Resilient Florida – The city will encourage lawmakers to maintain their “robust funding” of the Resilient Florida grant program. The document states that municipalities most susceptible to climate risks, like St. Petersburg, have made “tremendous strides in improving community resiliency” using the initiative’s awards – and the need will only increase.
• Water Quality – St. Petersburg is a peninsula on a peninsula and is “incredibly vulnerable to both the health and economic consequences of poor water quality.” City officials want to implement ordinances that protect residents from biological hazards and storm impacts without state interference.
• Future Proof Workforce – The document states that hurricane recovery efforts have underscored the need for a workforce skilled at mitigating storm damage and “rebuilding after the fact.” Officials want the legislature to support training programs encompassing forecasting, floodplain management, construction, emergency preparedness and “other emerging technologies.”

Councilmember Gina Driscoll suggested highlighting a specific example of the city’s success using Resilient Florida funding. She also noted growing the local marine economy is a priority listed in a subsequent section.

Driscoll said the University of South Florida needs a legislative sponsor for a long-planned Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences (EOS) research and teaching facility on the St. Petersburg campus. Rep. Linda Chaney and Sen. Nick DiCeglie requested $35.9 million for the ambitious $80 million project during the 2024 legislative session – to no avail.

“I’ve confirmed that USF is planning to continue making that request,” Driscoll said. “There are no specifics because they sustained damage at the College of Marine Science during the storms.”

She noted that university officials are now discerning a path forward for the EOS project. While those details remain unclear, Driscoll wants the city to proclaim its continued support.

An artist’s illustration of previous plans for an Environmental and Oceanographic research and teaching facility at the USF St. Petersburg campus. Image: USF.

Housing Opportunities for All

• Affordable Housing – The document notes that Helene and Milton significantly damaged St. Petersburg’s “already limited housing stock.” Local leaders want to increase funding for current programs and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that impede construction.
• Condominiums – Over 200 condominium buildings in the city must complete Milestone Inspection Reports by Dec. 31. Many owners face substantial special assessment fees. Officials want legislators to explore providing relief for condo associations and residents “struggling to meet the combined costs” of existing structural repairs, new cash reserve requirements and storm damage.
• ‘Yes’ in God’s Backyard – The document states that houses of worship play a vital role in supporting the most vulnerable community members. The city will encourage lawmakers to pass legislation that allows faith leaders to develop affordable housing on their properties “in a streamlined and expedited manner.”

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard noted Mayor Ken Welch has spearheaded the latter initiative and asked if any local legislators will sponsor a bill. Thompson said city administrators and lobbyists will host a strategy session to discern appropriate language and identify a “member path forward in the next couple weeks.”

Business and Arts Development

• Small Business Support – City officials will advocate for funding for storm-damage businesses that faced extended closures and lost revenue in Helene and Milton’s aftermath. The document calls the state’s support vital to an “important part of our economy.”
• State Arts and Culture Grants – The city council recently approved $550,000 in awards to local arts organizations after the governor vetoed all state appropriations in June. Officials will encourage legislators to provide “substantive funding” in 2025 and “examine ways they can support organizations” reeling from lost resources.
• Blue Economy – Local business and academic leaders have worked to bolster the area’s blue economy. The city will advocate for state “strategic investments in marine research and innovation, maritime resiliency and critical infrastructure – and an educated workforce that supports these efforts.”