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‘No longer the Jetsons:’ St. Pete prepares for eVTOLs
St. Petersburg’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Task Force will soon take flight as city officials have nominated members and set initial parameters.
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a rapidly evolving aerospace sector that typically utilizes electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) to move people and cargo. Often referred to as air taxis, the nascent vehicles can also perform disaster relief, search and rescue, surveillance and private aviation functions in places unreachable by traditional aircraft.
A city council committee agreed Thursday that at least 10 task force members would meet for nine months before providing program recommendations. Chris Ballestra, managing director of development, said the goal is to be “leading edge” rather than reactive to the burgeoning industry.
“One of the results we’d like to see out this task force is what the city needs to do to be prepared and ready for when this technology comes to St. Pete,” Ballestra added. “It’s no longer The Jetsons.
“It’s really happening.”
City council members and administrators stressed the need to keep pace with AAM advancements last summer. However, Hurricanes Helene and Milton delayed the task force’s formation.
Economic and Workforce Development Committee members submitted 10 nominees. Mayor Ken Welch recommended former Councilmember Ed Montanari.
Additional names included Alison Barlow, executive director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District; Whit Blanton, executive director of the Forward Pinellas Planning Agency; former Sen. Jeff Brandes, founder of the Florida Policy Project; and Walt Driggers, a member of the Albert Whitted Airport Advisory Committee.
“We feel that Albert Whitted Airport could be a great initial test bed for trials and beyond,” Ballestra said. “We’re (administrators) very excited about it.”
He said city officials would preemptively explore zoning, planning and ordinance changes to help facilitate the new technology. Departmental heads will serve as task force technical advisors.
City documents state the task force will discern a plan for AAM’s short and long-term integration in St. Petersburg. Members will also outline Albert Whitted’s role.
Considerations for the city-owned airport include a bridge location, the cost of electrification upgrades, a dedicated vertiport’s ideal size and its impact on existing uses. The task force will also explore industry-preferred potential sites for standalone facilities citywide.
Vertiports resemble traditional helipads, and members must consider neighborhood compatibility, public accessibility and multi-modal transit integration, related electrical infrastructure and financing models. The task force will also coordinate efforts with regional governments and planning agencies.
The committee agreed that the task force would provide quarterly updates throughout the nine-month initiative. Members will set quorum thresholds, meeting frequency and other parameters.
However, a debate ensued over whether the task force should only present facts or provide official recommendations. The latter initiative would require the task force to abide by Florida’s open government (sunshine) laws.
“I just think it’s really important that this group be able to talk with each other outside of those meetings,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll. “That’s how innovation happens – not just when people are sitting around a table at a formal meeting.
“There’s more than one member I have recommended who are key people, who talk to each other on a regular basis about this technology, and they will decline … if it’s in the sunshine because it would hamper their ability to attend things together and talk with each other.”
Driscoll nominated Barlow and Blanton. She and Councilmember Mike Harting recommended Brandes and Jay Rogers, founder of 3-D printing furniture company Haddy.
Driscoll also nominated Mike Swesey, CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation. Dr. Yu Zhang, director of the Advanced Air Mobility Program at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), was a city staff recommendation.
Council Chair Copley Gerdes nominated Brain Deeb, a local attorney, business owner and pilot. City staff also recommended Driggers.
Melissa Meshil, lead communications manager for Duke Energy Florida, was nominated by Driscoll and Harting. Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders recommended local realtor Janika Polk, whose son recently received a Friends of Albert Whitted Airport scholarship.
Committee members discussed potential additions and alternatives as some nominees could withdraw their names from consideration. “This is a very specific task force, and it’s not just for people who want to be on a board,” Driscoll noted.
The committee agreed that the task force would provide official recommendations and adhere to Sunshine Laws. Welch will select nominees and present the list to the full city council for a vote in February.