St. Pete’s near-term stormwater projects top $1.5 billion

St. Petersburg’s leadership hoped to complete $960 million in stormwater projects over the next five years. Mayor Ken Welch’s quest to address rapidly evolving climate threats added $545 million.

City council members heard a comprehensive report on the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program for the first time Thursday. Welch established the plan – now among several related to stormwater – in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

In a succinct summarization, Claude Tankersley, public works administrator, said SPAR’s overarching goal is to is to “get stuff done now.” The initiative’s 16 projects focus on mitigating neighborhood flooding citywide and protecting critical facilities from storm surges.

“The SPAR program, as I’ve brought it to you, is based on the information and data we have right now,” Tankersley said. “But we are aware that the St. Pete Action Plan is going to bring us more data from the people, and the Vulnerability Study is going to bring us more data from the science.

“The intention of SPAR is to remain agile and allow us to pivot as needed.”

The program accelerates timelines for previously identified infrastructure initiatives. A commitment to fluidity means that SPAR’s 16 implementation-ready projects could change.

Council members have already approved several immediate SPAR projects related to city facilities. Those include:

• Enhancing flood resilience at sewer treatment plants by installing deployable flood barriers and applying a durable waterproof coating to exterior walls.
• Installing an AquaFence flood prevention wall around a downtown sewage lift station.
• Completing the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility’s electrical improvement a year ahead of schedule.
• A private sewer lateral rehabilitation and rebate program that reduces stormwater infiltration into the city’s sewer system.
• Building a new pump station along Salt Creek to mitigate flooding around Lake Maggiore.

“And there are more to come,” Tankersley pledged. “We’ve got some projects coming to you next week.”

Most of the 16 previously planned stormwater capital improvement projects through 2030 will occur in northeast and southeast neighborhoods. Three of SPAR’s 16 initiatives extend west.

Councilmember Richie Floyd wants to see SPAR projects evenly spread throughout St. Petersburg. “There are parts of the city that … let me be polite … have more needs than other parts of the city,” he said.

“But other parts of the city have needs as well, which are pretty significant.”

In August 2024, a resident reported that “cars were floating” at 13th Avenue North and 58th Street in west St. Pete following torrential downpours. Photo: Roberta RamaSanto.

Floyd and Council Chair Copley Gerdes appreciated a stormwater project around west St. Pete’s Bear Creek. Torrential downpours caused extreme flooding throughout the area in August 2024.

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard stressed the need to garner neighborhood feedback and properly convey the city’s process surrounding a sensitive subject. She also said data rather than emotion or residents’ demands must drive their decision-making.

The city’s consultants considered several factors when triaging resiliency projects. Tankersley said those include cost, impact, location and flood history, and some initiatives must commence sequentially.

Consultants then scored the projects and presented their recommendations to administrators. Tankersley said they identified some now included in SPAR through conversations with residents and post-hurricane analysis.

The program faces two steep hurdles – capacity and funding. Councilmember Mike Harting said there are not enough “Bob’s Barricades” in Pinellas County to accommodate 32 stormwater projects over the next five years.

Tankersley acknowledged the concern. He said the program sets aside money to hire project managers who will help identify available contractors.

Where that funding will come from is still a mystery. The presidential administration has, at best, delayed federal reimbursements and grants. “Look, this is a ton of money,” Hanewicz said. “So, funding has to be part of, obviously, our conversation and how this is going to happen.”

That conversation did not happen Thursday. City Administrator Rob Gerdes said the city may not complete all SPAR projects listed.

He said another utility rate study in the fiscal year 2026 budget would consider a $1.5 billion price tag for near-term stormwater initiatives. Officials hope to utilize federal funding in 2027 and 2028.

“We’re having internal discussions about the possibility of a referendum related to an ad valorem increase,” Gerdes said of property taxes. “We’re still working through that and what that might look like. We’re not prepared to speak about that publicly at this point.”

A graphic showing the location of 16 previously planned stormwater projects and 16 now included in the St. Pete Agile Resiliency plan (red). Screengrab.