[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6644963,"mediaKeyId","5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192","parentId",5503156,"title","Votes at a glance: St. Petersburg council approves legal settlements, pension prepayment, planning authority and land use actions","audioSeconds",4191,"startMs",2713000,"endMs",6904000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192&start=2713&end=6904","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192/thumbnail_2713000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6644963/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-St-Petersburg-council-approves-legal-settlements-pension-prepayment-planning-authority-and-land-use-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644963-041d86c7990ed471b66e04cc992e2ea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150986&Signature=LVzLDcJF8AFTVB92JECtBCf~YmIwarbCmvBmOLT4LrJmGm4c7HIC-ShbmOaAHa6e2U-otuh4IDPCy~RBWCpqQQbjP7muLtLTvDtAXKPQLmgwSbmuk3gtWdQnJ-TT3cNK7~c6PI7atcKScWb6xyYjOl8QqNwwQdCdwH8Pay-hDhsEJl25YDuGlav0g4EX3jaKqhGKK3iLSQOW7fvAgLVG7m46lhLH43Zdy~WP67uLYx8tW9eyDWfhpW6b0WC~RUh9--kpuMcifCFZCaRSmbCgW-1wH7UrxYGdhfynw~1gToEmyC54-2g31MPaiGj4AioxevaeTWTYaGmVR8W7Cl9puw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Petersburg City","date","2025-06-12T00:00:00Z","article","The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously (unless otherwise noted) on multiple formal items during the June 12 meeting. Key actions included approval of an employment settlement, retention of outside counsel, changes to how plats will be administratively processed, a pension prepayment to balance the FY26 budget, and land‑use and zoning approvals.

Lede: The council approved six formal items during the June 12 public meeting, including two legal/contract actions, an administrative designation related to plat processing in anticipation of a pending Florida law, a $2 million prepayment toward the police pension required contribution and multiple land‑use/zoning items.

What the council approved (votes and key details)
- I‑1: Settlement in Camrydapila v. City of St. Petersburg (employment matter) — approved, $75,000. City attorney presented the settlement after balancing litigation risks; motion to approve passed unanimously with Council Member Hanawitz recorded as absent.
- I‑2: Authorize a $50,000 retainer to re‑retain Jones, Hurley & Inman for employment work — approved unanimously. Council discussed near‑term staffing needs for employment law support; motion passed.
- F‑3: Resolution designating the Planning and Development Services Department and the Planning Director as the administrative authority to review, receive and process plats and replats under anticipated Florida Senate Bill 784 (effective July 1) — approved unanimously. The change anticipates state law requiring administrative approval of plats that meet technical requirements.
- F‑4: Resolution to use up to $2,000,000 from the general fund balance as a prepayment toward the police pension annual required contribution for FY26 (to reduce next year’s budget gap) — approved unanimously. Administration said the prepayment addresses roughly 25% of an $8.1 million forecast budget gap for FY26.
- J‑3: Local landmark designation for the William E. and Margaret H. Emery House, 1947 Beach Drive SE — ordinance passed unanimously; staff recommended designation based on architecture and association with local architect Henry H. DuPont.
- J‑4 A/B/C: A package to amend future land‑use maps, rezone three noncontiguous sites and approve a related 15‑year development agreement (includes a preservation‑area reconfiguration, a 20‑unit cap in the development agreement and an up‑to‑10,000‑sq‑ft nonresidential cap) — the package passed unanimously. Staff recommended the actions because the agreement reduces development potential compared with the theoretical maximum and secures maintenance funding for preservation areas.

Why this matters: These items cover liability management, legal staffing, administrative readiness for an impending state law change, near‑term budget strategy for FY26 (pension prepayment), and multiple land‑use decisions that include preservation protections and a development agreement that the city said will provide guarantees for maintenance of preserved areas.

Ending: Staff and the council said they will follow up with committee reports and implementation steps for the pension and CDBG‑DR programs, and staff noted additional HUD and state clarifications still outstanding for some recovery program details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Petersburg City Council\t\tJune 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a set of administrative, legal and land‑use actions on June 12, including a $75,000 employment settlement, a $50,000 retainer to outside employment counsel, a $2 million prepayment to the police pension and several planning and zoning items.","taxTitle","St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",3508,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6644971,"Council hears update on Hidden Voices program supporting returning citizens, trauma counseling and tiny‑homes placements",761,4235000,4996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192&start=4235&end=4996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192/thumbnail_4235000.jpg","/articles/6644971/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-hears-update-on-Hidden-Voices-program-supporting-returning-citizens-trauma-counseling-and-tinyhomes-placements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644971-bd7748b812ea5ad727298467a811a7a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150986&Signature=R6ZiXTDrqHcPcTp2-vnzz~yAt4nWTxxsdlu~DdBnM1ibBr~CV5Tnh1Cn32S~3bs3BBMiAgB1kP2v8Bei5~uHRa~EbAnrLsIHYEuNX4et0TUllR3pRVCQQsVwIq0rsxvWvzN4ordpRPhB2vb8OfEOw3HfJ7Mu5xgWTqt~r-0~NDCgWoULdtIWR~t27yXxgZoXR8OuiQNpaafnurVVTdZruIiORGyVVKwq8PLjqp2KUJFwyo67SHbaTvE0IrO9WspSvhIn4CaUcihVbKG9ptUryuY3ODGs03lUOIUHS6beFA7bSxPrp~wEAHsUWcI~t8TRJ38tFp9Bg31697NLq2sgpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Petersburg City Council on June 12 heard an update on Hidden Voices, a four‑year community initiative led by PERC (Partnership for Empowerment, Restoration and Community) that provides trauma‑informed case management, mental‑health counseling, housing navigation, neighborhood cleanup and workforce assistance for returning citizens and residents impacted by violence and disasters.

Lede: Hidden Voices has evolved into a ‘‘trauma‑informed, community‑driven initiative’’ that PERC says has reached more than 3,000 individuals and families since inception and currently supports roughly 50 active clients with case management and wraparound services.

Nut graf: Council member Deborah Fig Sanders and PERC staff described a program that began as a grassroots gun‑violence response and expanded into broader recovery work during Hurricane Idalia and related needs, including workforce readiness, tiny‑homes placements and peer‑led counseling.

What the city heard:
- Esther Saini, director of programs and staff development at PERC, gave the report and said the program now offers ongoing case management, street outreach teams and peer counseling. She said a recent surge in need after hurricanes led to distribution of resources, mass intake, and the establishment of a community hub at a historic Sixteenth Street site.
- Staff described partnerships with property managers who are identifying housing openings, and said recent temporary placements (e.g., Bayou Court) enabled clients to reunite with their children.
- Program staff and partners said they are building a peer‑led counseling program and a ‘‘neighborhood cleanup with purpose’’ street team that combines workforce training with cleanup and outreach.
- Council and PERC staff discussed second‑chance hiring and workforce pathways; program leaders noted examples of participants who moved from street‑team roles into paid positions with partner employers.

Why it matters: Hidden Voices is an example of a locally driven recovery and reentry service that stitches mental‑health supports, housing navigation and workforce training together. Council members framed the program as central to the city’s strategy for resilience and recovery in neighborhoods heavily impacted by storms and violence.

Council discussion and next steps: Council members praised PERC’s outreach and asked for continued coordination with RISE (youth violence prevention) and with economic/workforce partners to scale summer jobs and on‑the‑job training for participants with barriers to employment. Council members asked staff to pursue funding and positions for community navigators and to continue efforts to coordinate hurricane mitigation funding with the program’s tiny‑homes and workforce initiatives.

Ending: PERC asked council for sustained attention to funding and shelter/housing pathways; members said they will continue to pursue cross‑agency and grant options to expand placements and workforce pathways.
","PERC reported that Hidden Voices now supports roughly 50 active clients with comprehensive case management, trauma‑informed counseling and workforce or tiny‑homes placements, part of a four‑year initiative expanded after storms and rising gun‑violence needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6644981,"City council approves $159.8 million 'Sunrise St. Pete' CDBG‑DR action plan to fund housing, infrastructure and recovery supports",5416,122000,5538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192&start=122&end=5538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192/thumbnail_122000.jpg","/articles/6644981/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/City-council-approves-1598-million-Sunrise-St-Pete-CDBGDR-action-plan-to-fund-housing-infrastructure-and-recovery-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644981-a5d5ebea376a94f0543bee72ab198be3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150986&Signature=G0EjYt-9OB4k9VmhD7TF86~Spo0DDD-Jgn0uZN2jrCNnK1JlrmuyeSQah6mrTFqYSQDtyrzp3OxARN~8Aff6BFM2hpBdkdfjO0LZRJqxoYyxNSyfdZ6sICHcGY0rkYqcGOBStGLILc-vNzgitGFACCryi2DmmHxgsrZBKB6RzGDuL0iMxhKHGsC5~neyY3jhoaI~B1IVusHeX79C8SO913pBdQVTEq1-bOpAHlZSNjC~iTUqzI27ngHw5E9qWgZ5iRfQBbhqVPoDKs-fENCD7FKiS7nKJ46C09fHrZjBiDV~WZOo~HYTIWjmmVQ7hyo3y5uOLIE6sbhvvoaE~N7Pgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the Sunrise St. Pete Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) action plan on June 12, 2025, authorizing staff to pursue the $159,800,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address unmet recovery needs from Hurricanes Idalia and Helen.

City and consultant presenters told council the plan is built around HUD requirements that at least 70% of funds must benefit low‑ and moderate‑income (LMI) households and that a 15% mitigation set‑aside is required. Consultant Ryan Flannery of Horn described the unmet‑needs analysis showing housing as the largest category (about 73% of unmet needs), with infrastructure, the economy and public services making up the remainder. Flannery said HUD requires projects be ‘‘tied back’’ to the designated storms and explained the difference between unmet needs (repair/recovery) and mitigation (forward‑looking resilience).

Why it matters: The plan is the city’s required roadmap to receive and spend federal disaster dollars. It outlines programs to repair and replace storm‑damaged housing, build affordable rental units, reimburse homeowners and provide nonprofit recovery services and mitigation projects to reduce future storm damage.

Key elements and programs
- Total award announced by HUD: $159,800,000 (includes a 15% mitigation allocation).
- Priority: At least 70% of funds must benefit households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI).
- Major program categories presented: residential rehabilitation/reconstruction/elevation; homeowner reimbursement; disaster relief reimbursements (up to $15,000 per household for qualifying hardship); homebuyer assistance; voluntary buyout/acquisition; affordable rental housing (subsidy up to $125,000 per unit requested in plan); nonprofit community support services (mental‑health/trauma support/housing navigation); public infrastructure mitigation; and post‑disaster planning/after‑action work.
- Budget highlights shown in the draft: about $35M for residential recovery (rehab/reconstruction/elevation), $12M for homeowner reimbursement, $14M for disaster relief reimbursements, $48M proposed for affordable rental housing, $25M for infrastructure mitigation, $6M for nonprofit support services and nearly $1.9M for planning and after‑action studies.

Consultants from Horn and program leads emphasized that the plan must balance community input and data. Horn’s analysis found the largest remaining dollar gap was in housing; staff said the proposed allocations are roughly proportional to those unmet needs and therefore should meet HUD’s review expectations. Horn’s Ryan Flannery and Tyler Bridges of Horn walked council through the eligibility rules HUD imposes (tie‑back to the storms, income prioritization, limits on mitigation to 15% of the award) and the city’s public‑engagement work.

Public comments: Several residents urged clearer communications and easier application assistance. Sandra Harrison and Gloria Maxwell, among other speakers from South St. Petersburg and inland neighborhoods, said many residents remain displaced or underinsured and do not know how or when to apply. Pinellas Community Foundation’s Rebecca Hughes urged the council to fund trauma‑informed mental health services for residents and nonprofit staff. Jerome King and other canvassers told council that food losses, utility impacts and eviction risk remain urgent in some neighborhoods and asked that outreach focus on the most affected blocks.

Council Q&A and follow‑up commitments
Council members pressed administration and Horn experts on several practical points:
- How applicant households will access funds and whether the city will require out‑of‑pocket payments first. Administration described a ‘‘no‑wrong‑door’’ intake model with a contracted vendor to case‑manage homeowners through program eligibility and documentation requirements, and outreach teams (including local nonprofits) to help access benefits.
- Whether permit fees for rebuilding could be reimbursed or waived; staff said they are seeking HUD clarification and will pursue waiver or reimbursement if allowed.
- Whether insured homeowners’ deductibles would be eligible for aid; staff said historically HUD CDBG‑DR has not paid insurance deductibles and that question would require further review.
- Use of the mitigation set‑aside: staff said mitigation funds are baked into the infrastructure programs and can also be used for residential mitigation when eligible.
- How the city will manage cash flow (reimbursement model) and city administrative capacity: administration noted HUD reimbursement procedures are generally fast, and told council it would present implementation staffing and quarterly reporting to the Budget/Finance committee to track expenditures.

Council action and next steps: Council voted unanimously to approve the draft Sunrise St. Pete action plan and to submit it to HUD; staff said the post‑disaster planning studies (after‑action report and long‑term recovery plan) will begin before full HUD approval because federal rules allow some planning funds to be initiated earlier. Staff also committed to written guidance for applicants, locally‑based outreach partners and periodic updates to council on program roll‑out, eligibility criteria, and the status of HUD clarifications (for example, on permitting and allowable reimbursements).

Ending: The approved plan creates the city’s framework to use HUD CDBG‑DR dollars over a multi‑year recovery period. Council members and speakers repeatedly urged rapid, proactive outreach so the funding reaches displaced and lower‑income residents who have already spent money repairing or replacing damaged homes.

","The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the Sunrise St. Pete Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) action plan on June 12, 2025, authorizing staff to pursue $159,800,000 from HUD to repair storm‑damaged homes, build affordable housing, support nonprofits and fund mitigation projects after Hurricanes Idalia and Helen.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6644976,"Residents criticize ‘Clean and Safe’ and proposed business improvement district, urge housing and outreach instead",1174,392000,1566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192&start=392&end=1566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192/thumbnail_392000.jpg","/articles/6644976/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Residents-criticize-Clean-and-Safe-and-proposed-business-improvement-district-urge-housing-and-outreach-instead","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644976-178c69c10777f0d631be227a99ec482f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150986&Signature=Q3Ll8jFMnt0f8rffZo~-YMjjSDN~1RmSJch5shRV5D3qfiDlessq18-BasZCrND8tMg7IfPeFK4SMRXsbV2HAjobg6ueVcGeNfJZD-MNkGnNxx7SxHdwZIuRBPw8ijd4hg3qqsPaTyCSQAb7lkfrvsckG3aHmeOHAT1-c~JZ5GQTIgJH1iCg90~uoytWUlPhXFd3rqOCpr7rl5DDantu~pL44y63avH0-b6Ifwmyv04SOqEigcitk12yA8zwyH5JUlyUDasoxlHAyiT~rMokuU-NBENDkdzJ8xCtbUU3NkOo-f9ptU5vYgelCUtSqAxoi8rjdoq9oLPWfIewPbJrhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A series of residents and faith leaders urged the St. Petersburg City Council on June 12 to reject proposals they say would criminalize or displace people experiencing homelessness and to instead fund housing, outreach and mental‑health services.

Lede: Dozens of public‑comments speakers used the council’s open forum to push back on a proposed Clean and Safe program and related business improvement district (BID) approach that some say would put private property owners in charge of public space rules and pressure vulnerable residents to move.

Nut graf: Speakers — including ministers, neighborhood organizers and people who deliver services — framed the issue as a choice between privatizing public parks and pursuing ‘‘housing‑first’’ strategies. They asked council to prioritize outreach workers, wraparound services and permanent housing over enforcement or security models.

What speakers said:
- Reverend Andy Oliver, pastor at Allendale United Methodist Church, said street outreach, housing‑first strategies and mental‑health resources are what ‘‘work’’ and warned that punitive systems would criminalize poverty. ‘‘If downtown doesn't belong to the most vulnerable among us, it doesn't truly belong to any of us,’’ Oliver said.
- Dylan Dames (Faith in Florida) and other speakers referenced past council votes that allowed supportive housing and criticized neighbors who opposed services for vulnerable residents. Dames called Clean and Safe ‘‘displacement’’ that would transfer public functions to the private sector.
- Jay James said Williams Park is a public space with a long history and warned against privatizing it or using subtle measures, like removing benches, to exclude people.
- Tenant‑rights and advocacy speakers, including William Kilgore of the Saint Pete Tenants Union, described BIDs as tools that allow downtown property owners to control public space and favor private security over social services, and urged funding for direct services instead.

No formal proposal was before the council for a final vote during open forum, but speakers referenced materials and committee discussions earlier in the week and repeatedly asked the city to invest in outreach and housing rather than privatized park rules or security patrols.

Why it matters: Council members have previously discussed elements of Clean and Safe, BIDs, and park management in committee. The public comments show strong opposition from faith leaders, tenants' organizers and residents who say the city should not cede control of public parks to private interests and should boost mental‑health and housing investments.

Ending: Speakers urged concrete alternatives — expanding case‑management street‑outreach teams, funding nonprofit crisis supports and creating pathways to housing for people displaced by the storms — and asked council to ensure any program keeps public parks truly public.","Multiple speakers at the June 12 council meeting criticized a proposed Clean and Safe program and business improvement district (BID) that residents say would privatize park management and displace unhoused people; speakers urged housing‑first, expanded outreach and non‑punitive services",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6644967,"Saturday Shops founder tells council vendor academy helped minority‑owned food trucks and small sellers grow",108,2962000,3070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192&start=2962&end=3070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503156-422fb5651c84200969a83634ab8c8192/thumbnail_2962000.jpg","/articles/6644967/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Saturday-Shops-founder-tells-council-vendor-academy-helped-minorityowned-food-trucks-and-small-sellers-grow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644967-e7fdb08abdf2ccee38b0929324a35942/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150986&Signature=YTUCM5-lmT0mahLnd7~~WXVnV73zQwZj6HUhA5foDHFGkZjKop~lNRrxT5kNt-nAl7BO-8lRJAhcoKoXSuAAMo5mPkmTAwsYidF3VA6jLlT1OkGqRFuhi77tY7jJpaD45HfD2Jpf~W6PDwhF0q~St2k-0jKLF8EAM8012WiW3wf5wMYXkG~4jEf1vEJTqnQiBRvDSlNXpsSWbElbDd7FmSMdaum6PCFimgNoh1okwQPFKrFbcr49RBrnYbjwbEn2SN27UILf7GF4CDrbact6Tm1-kbZrUJtXPfiQBCruGQbjHRXb--AqAW3wTXFXf9MyxVpd4OGm31ITdlkifjCi8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Petersburg City Council heard an update on June 12 about Saturday Shops, a local small‑business incubator and vendor academy that supports minority‑owned food trucks, makers and microenterprises.

Lede: Renee Edwards, founder and CEO of Saturday Shops, told council the program has graduated more than 300 vendors from its interactive vendor academy, hosted 114 outdoor markets averaging about 80 vendors each, and generated more than $1.14 million in vendor revenue over four years. Edwards also said Saturday Shops operates a retail “Everyday Shops” storefront and has enabled vendors to reach new customers via the Grand Prix event.

Nut graf: Council members praised the organization’s role in disaster response and local economic development, noting its food‑truck mobilization after recent hurricanes and workforce and entrepreneurship training for family businesses and veterans.

Key points from the presentation and Q&A
- Program scale and outcomes: Edwards said Saturday Shops has held 114 markets, produced $1,140,000 in market revenue, and that 102 vendors at the Everyday Shops retail location had collectively earned more than $228,000 since April 2024. The vendor academy and retail institute are part of a staged support model, she said.
- Jobs and operations: Edwards said the organization has created roughly 10 jobs directly and five retail staff at Everyday Shops; vendors typically expand their own staffing as they grow. Food‑truck owner Naja Campbell (Son of a Brisket) credited Saturday Shops with early opportunities that helped his operation scale and participate in city events.
- Disaster response and community support: Council members praised Saturday Shops for mobilizing food trucks after storms; several council members noted they rely on Saturday Shops to connect vendors to community events and disaster relief.
- Next steps: Saturday Shops hopes to launch a Food‑Truck Academy with partners including St. Pete Fire Department and Duke Energy, and it is negotiating a retail site partnership at Brandon Mall for the Everyday Shops institute. Edwards estimated a market costs $8,000–$15,000 to stage depending on size and location and said typical market attendance ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 customers.

Why it matters: The presentation highlighted a grassroots path to small‑business growth and resilience, with the city’s commercial and emergency‑response ecosystems benefiting from vendor networks that can mobilize during disasters.

Ending: Council members said they will promote the program and look for ways to support vendor pathways, workforce training and integration with city resiliency efforts.","Council received an update on Saturday Shops, a vendor academy and retail program that has graduated more than 300 vendors, hosted 114 markets and generated more than $1.14 million in small‑business revenue over four years; founder Renee Edwards said the initiative also provided food and emergency relief during hurricanes","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: St. Petersburg council approves legal settlements, pension prepayment, planning authority and land use actions

Council hears update on Hidden Voices program supporting returning citizens, trauma counseling and tiny‑homes placements

City council approves $159.8 million 'Sunrise St. Pete' CDBG‑DR action plan to fund housing, infrastructure and recovery supports

Residents criticize ‘Clean and Safe’ and proposed business improvement district, urge housing and outreach instead

Saturday Shops founder tells council vendor academy helped minority‑owned food trucks and small sellers grow