St. Pete’s resiliency costs could surpass $3 billion

St. Petersburg City Council members heard some welcome news Thursday regarding ongoing efforts to bolster resiliency throughout the low-lying peninsula; however, time and money remain significant hurdles.

The council accepted a $280,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that reimburses costs for a new Comprehensive Vulnerability Study. An $80,000 agreement with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) to develop the Resilient St. Pete Action Plan also received unanimous approval.

Claude Tankersley, public works administrator, said the city oversees between $8 and $10 billion in assets. He noted that the first step to bolstering climate resilience is discerning vulnerabilities.

“We’ll be identifying those critical assets in the city that are prone to severe flooding,” Tankersley explained. “We’re going to be assessing their risk level and consequences of flooding through sea level rise and increased storm intensity.”

Community feedback is a critical component of prioritizing projects. However, Tankersley said recommendations will inevitably outweigh “what we’re able to tackle in the beginning.”

Administrators will separate assets into four categories: Transportation, infrastructure, emergency facilities and schools, and cultural resources. They will soon announce a launch meeting. Several community workshops will occur throughout the process.

Once complete, stakeholders must establish an implementation plan, then an adaptation plan and, finally, identify funding resources. Those and the TBRPC’s efforts will intertwine.

As subject matter experts, the TBRPC will provide technical support and assist with visualization and community engagement for the Resilient St. Pete Action Plan. Tankersley said stakeholders modeled it after the organization’s extensive regional initiative.

Those efforts intersect with several previously established plans in various stages of completion. Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz said it is challenging to keep track, “even for city council members.”

Tankersley said the holistic St. Pete Water Plan, completed in 2019, was “our first big master plan.” It encompasses drinking water, sewers, reclaimed water, natural resources and “a portion” of stormwater initiatives.

Tankersley said the St. Pete Water Plan estimated “almost $3 billion worth of work … to bring all those water resources up to standard. Up to sustainability and resilient standards.”

A sign warning residents of potential wastewater contamination at the site of an August 2023 sewage spill in St. Petersburg. Hurricane Idalia caused widespread flooding about a week later.

The council will soon formally adopt the long-awaited Stormwater Master Plan. It recommends between roughly $750 million and $1 billion in projects.

He said some water-related assets are a century old, and those closer to the coast are more susceptible to sea level rise and storm surge. “And we might need to look at them on an accelerated basis … that’s the purpose of this.”

“The reality is there’s just not enough money to do all these projects,” Hanewicz replied. “Not even close.”

At a previous meeting, Tankersley said he requested $25 million for stormwater efforts in an upcoming budget, half of what it would take to complete $1 billion in projects in the next 20 years. That soars to $150 billion annually for $3 billion in projects over the same period.

Councilmember Ed Montanari represents Shore Acres, the city’s lowest-lying neighborhood. He has noticed a cycle that typically begins with a storm.

While Montanari said a study often follows, the city lacks funding to complete the recommended projects or the neighborhood “doesn’t want to do the changes.” He said there have been “somewhat radical” proposals, including building levees and floodgates.

However, Montanari noted progress with replacing tidal backflow preventers and cleaning storm drains. He believes the city must continue dedicating more resources to address increasing flooding and sea level rise issues.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue personnel enter the city’s Shore Acres neighborhood after Hurricane Idalia brushed the coast in late August 2023. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, who represents flood-prone Riviera Bay, helped establish the Regional Resiliency Action Plan as a TBRPC member. She said the municipal initiative will help identify “things we can do today,” subsequent steps and long-term solutions.

“I’m really looking forward to having what is almost like a guided path to get us to where we can prioritize funding we have available,” Gabbard said. “But also, be even more nimble and responsive to grant funding that comes down.”

She credited administrators for an “amazing job” securing grant dollars. Gabbard also expects the new studies to precipitate additional funding opportunities.

“Yes, we have a lot more work to do,” she added. “We don’t have enough resources today. But we know this is the start of making sure we are a much more resilient and sustainable community for many generations.”

Tom Greene, assistant city administrator, said officials have received $39.1 million in grant funding through fiscal year 2024. With the council’s support, they will continue aggressively pursuing outside resources to supplement city investments.