St Petersburg FL News

Wastewater Discharge Notification – 6.12.2021

Wastewater Discharge Notification – 6.12.2021
Approximately 30 gallons of raw sewage has been discharged from a manhole at the 400 block of 6th street south due to a grease blockage. Wastewater was flowing out of the manhole, spreading out in the parking lot, where it was contained.

Fourth of July Fireworks Return to the St. Pete Waterfront

City of St. Petersburg revives annual firework display tradition for weekend of festivities at the St. Pete Pier

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The City of St. Petersburg announced that Fourth of July fireworks will return this year, continuing the tradition of enjoying fireworks along waterfront parks - now including the St. Pete Pier district.

Official event festivities begin Friday, July 2, 2021 with music, food and movie on the tilted lawn. The fun continues throughout the weekend with the 4k St Pete Pier Run, Silent Disco Nights, Health Expo, food trucks and musical performances. The weekend of events conclude with the fireworks show along the downtown waterfront on Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 9 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Some vendors or activities may have participation or registration fees. Event-goers are reminded to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to utilize City parking facilities downtown or consider alternative modes of transportation.

For information regarding the weekend of events, parking, and more, visit stpetepier.org/thefourth.

Wastewater Discharge Notification – 6.4.21

Approximately 100 gallons of wastewater has been discharged from a manhole at the intersection of 36th Ave. and 66th Way N. due to a grease blockage. The site has been cleaned and disinfected. Approximately 20 gallons flowed to Miles Creek.

New Public Campground and Other Major Enhancements at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

The City of St. Petersburg’s Parks and Recreation Department has completed new enhancement projects at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, including the opening of the new Terry Tomalin Campground, a 12-site primitive public camping area. These projects at the City’s 245-acre nature preserve and recreation and education center will help serve the City’s vision to educate and inspire youth and adults to become advocates for nature, sustainable practices and conservation.

“When people think of St. Petersburg, they think of our beautiful waterfront, sunny weather and excellent museums, but we also have outstanding parks and preserves, and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is an exciting experience to immerse yourself in nature,” said Leisure Services Administrator Mike Jefferis. “The Parks and Recreation Department wants to connect people and especially children with nature right in the heart of the city. This is a significant renovation to an area of the preserve that has never been open to the public before. You don’t need to be an environmentalist or have a passion for the outdoors to enjoy these new amenities; curiosity is all you need.”

The enhancement projects include:

Creation of the new Terry Tomalin Campground

The new campground offers a unique urban camping experience where guests can immerse themselves in nature while being only minutes from the city’s downtown core.
The first phase of the campground can accommodate 12 primitive tent campsites, each with a picnic table and fire pit. The campsites were created out of natural openings in the wooded area to minimize environmental impact and to maximize camper privacy. A second phase will create 12 additional campsites.
Camping at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve has previously been open only to organizations, but this new campground is open to individuals and families, being the first public primitive family campground in St. Pete.
The campground’s name honors the late Terry Tomalin, former Tampa Bay Times outdoors writer and husband to Deputy Mayor and City Administrator Kanika Tomalin, who supported camping at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve through several services projects on the preserve. Terry frequented the current campground with his Boy Scouts Troop and the new Terry Tomalin Campground will allow more visitors to get closer to nature in the City’s backyard.

Construction of Hammock Hall

The new 3,131 sq. ft. building serves as the welcome and education center at a new, consolidated main entrance for the Environmental Studies Area near the existing Gate 2 entrance along 31st St. S.
A preserve ranger will be on staff to greet and provide wayfinding to visitors at the new entrance.
Hammock Hall provides additional nature programming and education in two multipurpose rooms, with rental space available, to further Boyd Hill Nature Preserve’s goal to connect residents and visitors with local flora and fauna.
Hammock Hall will enable programming like Climate Change Series, a monthly discussion of the potential impacts of climate change on our area, and Sustainable Sundays, which offers demonstrations on sustainable living and features products available in the gift shop.

Expanded public access

The area between the north and the south areas of the preserve, along Lake Maggiore, is now open to the public. The area has undergone ecological restoration and boasts two additional miles of nature trails from the nature center to the new Terry Tomalin Campground. The expansion also houses a new restroom and shelter.

Wetland Restoration

The City has entered into a Cooperative Funding Agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to restore hydrology, improve wetland functionality and enhance the ditches that run through the preserve.
This restoration project will create a natural stream that will benefit water quality and wildlife.

Additional parking

Natural parking has been created at the Environmental Studies Area and Pinellas Pioneer Settlement.

“Terry was a tireless advocate of outdoor leadership and the important role communing with nature plays in each of our lives. He would be very humbled by this honor and greatly appreciative of the increased access the campgrounds will provide for so many people for such a long time to come,” said Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, City Administrator.

The City of St. Petersburg will host a dedication ceremony to introduce the new Terry Tomalin Campground and enhancement projects at Boyd Hill.

Saturday, July 3, 2021
Dedication Ceremony: 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Campground Tours: 12-2 p.m.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Hammock Hall
3010 31st St. S.

Additionally, new features and programming will be introduced:

The Rain Garden Demonstration Area will educate visitors on different methods for capturing rainwater that they can implement at home with rain barrels, rain totes and rain gardens, which help with water conservation and improving water quality in local waterways.
The Pioneer Garden will teach local residents how to grow organic fruits and vegetables locally. Students from Gibbs High School will maintain and care for the garden each week and the public will be invited to volunteer in the garden on the first Saturday of each month.
The Native Plant Nursery will allow Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff and volunteers to propagate native plants for use in the preserve and butterfly gardens. Some of the plants will also be distributed to the public during the monthly Native Plant and Seed Swap program and Rainwater Guardian Workshops.

The enhancements at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve were mainly funded by Penny for Pinellas.

For more information, visit stpeteparksrec.org/boydhillpreserve or contact the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department at 727-893-7441.

Summer Reading Returns, Includes New Programming for Adults

Summer Reading returns at the St. Petersburg Library System June 12-July 31, 2021.

The virtual program will offer take-home activities, digital programming and reading challenges with chances to win prizes for readers of all age levels.

New for Summer Reading 2021, programming for adult readers. The educational program designed to keep young minds active while on summer break will be the first robust adult summer reading program offered by the St. Petersburg Library System in recent years. This aligns with the St. Petersburg Library System’s year-round goal of promoting lifelong learning.

“Last year's Summer Reading 2020 and other virtual programs were such a success and allowed us to enhance community engagement. It was clear from the participation we needed to offer Summer Reading 2021 for St. Pete’s youth, even while doing so virtually this year,” said Mika Nelson, St. Petersburg Library System Director. “This year, we are pleased to expand the virtual Summer Reading Program to include adult readers as well.”

This year’s Summer Reading theme is Tails & Tales. The City has partnered with READsquared and Page Turner Adventures to offer free online activities and reading challenges, like the Mayor’s Reading Challenge, to celebrate animals and stories.

The more you read, the more you learn – and the more you can win! Completing reading challenges allows readers to enter for chances to win prizes, like an Amazon Kindle Fire. Additionally, readers are encouraged to participate in Reading with the Rays, a reading challenge by the Tampa Bay Rays.

To get Summer Reading started, Mirror Lake Community Library will host a kickoff event where participants can pick up a Summer Reading Guide and take-home activities.

Summer Reading 2021 Kickoff
Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Mirror Lake Library (front lawn)
280 5th St. N.

Participants can also download the Summer Reading Guide at splibraries.org.

There will be no end of summer party this year. However, Summer BreakSpot will still be happening. Kids 18 and under can get free grab-and-go meals at James W. Johnson Community Library and South Community Library. Meals will be available Monday-Friday, June 14-August 6. Meal serving times can be found at splibraries.org or by calling the library. Other participating locations can be found at stpeteparksrec.org/SummerFood.

More information about Summer Reading 2021 can be found at splibraries.org or by calling 727-892-5296.

St. Pete Ranks No. 1 in Florida and 14 in U.S. for Parks System

The City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department’s emphasis on preserving and enhancing parkland and providing engaging recreational opportunities for all who live, work and play in the Sunshine City did not go unnoticed by The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit with a mission to “create parks and protect land for people,” that ranked St. Petersburg No. 1 in Florida and No. 14 nationally in this year’s ParkScore® index.

The 2021 ParkScore® index analyzed 100 of the largest U.S. cities using mapping technology and demographic date to determine how well each city is meeting the needs for parks. Each city was scored in five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.

St. Petersburg ranked higher thank several major cities known for their active and outdoor lifestyle, including Austin, TX, San Diego, CA and Denver, CO. The Trust for Public Land gave St. Petersburg a 78 out of 100 in investment and 78 out of 100 in equity. According to the ParkScore® index, “75% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park” in St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department uses placemaking to create inclusive and equitably accessible parkland and recreational opportunities for the community to play, learn and explore as well as working to environmentally protect greenspaces for future generations to enjoy.

“Our parks and recreation teams work hard to provide a healthy, protected, sustainable and inclusive parks and recreation system for our community and visitors. From our amenities to the Healthy St. Pete fitness classes and community events and more, St. Pete’s parks offer something for everyone,” said Mike Jefferis, Leisure Services Administrator.

For more details about St. Petersburg’s ParkScore®, visit www.tpl.org/city/st-petersburg-florida.

St. Petersburg Pools Opening for the Summer

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department has opened the City’s neighborhood pools to the public on Saturday, May 29, through Monday, May 31, Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, and Saturday, June, 12, and Sunday, June 13, from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m. Seasonal pools will be closed June 1-4 and June 7-11.

Seasonal pools will reopen for regular summer hours on Monday, June 14, with the following schedule:

Childs Park Pool, 1227 43rd St. S. – Monday through Friday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15- 4:15 p.m.
E.H. McLin Pool, 602 14th St. S. – Monday through Saturday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m.
Fossil Park Pool, 6739 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. – Monday through Sunday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15 – 4:15 p.m. and Friday from 7-9 p.m.
Jennie Hall Pool, 1025 26^th St. S. – Monday through Friday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m., Friday from 7 - 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 – 2 p.m. and 2:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Lake Vista Pool, 1450 60^th Ave. S. – Monday through Saturday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m. and Friday from 7 - 9 p.m.
Northwest Pool, 2331 60^th St. N. – Monday through Friday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m.

Year-round pools have the following summer hours:

North Shore Aquatic Complex, 901 North Shore Dr. NE – Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Walter Fuller Pool, 7883 26^th Ave. N. – Monday through Friday from 5-7 a.m. for lap swimming and from 12-2 p.m. and 2:15-4:15 p.m. for recreational swimming, Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday 12-2 p.m., 2:15-4:15 p.m.

Neighborhood pool admission is $1 for ages 3-12 and $2 for ages 13 and up. North Shore Aquatic Complex admission is $4.50 for ages 3-12 and $5 for ages 13 and up. Join us for $1 Splash Days on Memorial Day at all City pools and Fourth of July at all neighborhood pools. For more information or to find a pool near you, visit www.stpeteparksrec.org or call 727-893-7441.

Wastewater Discharge Notification - 05.29.2021

Approximately 500 gallons of wastewater has been discharged in Azalea Park about 300 feet north of 13th Ave. and 72nd St. due to an air release valve failure on the Force Main. ARV is turned off and area is being cleaned.

St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman Narrows Tropicana Field Redevelopment Proposals

St. Petersburg, FL (May 28, 2021) -- Today, Mayor Rick Kriseman narrowed the Tropicana Field redevelopment proposals to two firms; Midtown Development and Sugar Hill Community Partners, JMA Ventures. Additional public engagement is forthcoming and will focus on these two proposals.

Said Mayor Kriseman: “All four finalists have impressive visions for the site and the experience to execute this generational project, but I believe the Midtown and Sugar Hill proposals best reflect the community’s desires and that these firms are well-positioned to provide additional details and ultimately transform this site.”

CONTACT
Alan DeLisle
Economic Development Administrator
727-262-8990

Brian Caper, AICP
Economic & Workforce Development
727-893-7035

St. Petersburg Issues Reclaimed Water Low Pressure Advisory

The City of St. Petersburg has enacted dry weather protocols to conserve the city’s supply of reclaimed water. Effective immediately, the City will temporarily lower the pressure to decrease the flow of reclaimed water coming from the City’s water reclamation facilities during the hottest times of the day so that the quantity of reclaimed water will be sufficient for irrigating overnight and in the early morning.

Reclaimed water customers may notice decreased pressure coming from their sprinklers from 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and are encouraged to adjust their irrigation timers and only water according to the City’s year-round reclaimed water irrigation schedule:

Water your lawn no more than three days per week.

Even addresses should irrigate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Odd addresses should irrigate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

Water from 5-9 a.m. or 7-11 p.m. Watering during the heat of the day is inefficient as much of the water used is lost to evaporation and wind drift.

Reclaimed water customers are also asked to turn their automatic sprinkler systems off if there is not adequate pressure for proper operation. This will aid in filling storage tanks so that customers will be able to irrigate.

Reduced supply of reclaimed water is expected for this time of the year and these dry weather protocols are typical for the region, with similar practices currently being carried out throughout Pinellas County.

The City of St. Petersburg would like reclaimed water customers to know that reclaimed water is a limited resource and should be used wisely. The supply of reclaimed water depends on the amount of wastewater being processed at the City’s three water reclamation facilities. It takes five houses worth of wastewater to produce enough reclaimed water for one property.

Reclaimed water pressure will return to normal once the supply of reclaimed water is stabilized. If conditions worsen, the Mayor has the ability to enact mandatory restrictions on reclaimed water.

Updates can be found at stpete.org/ReclaimedWater.

The City of St. Petersburg offers additional water conservation tips, programs, incentives and more at stpete.org/WaterConservation.

Wastewater Discharge Notification – 5.24.2021

Approximately 10 gallons of wastewater has been discharged from a manhole at the 5900 block of Dartmouth Ave. N. due to a blockage caused by grease and wipes. The site has been cleaned and disinfected.

Free Fitness Class Enables Residents to Use Park Amenities to Better Their Health

Healthy St. Pete’s free monthly fitness class, Exercise Zone Workout, enables St. Petersburg residents to use free exercise zone equipment available in 11 City parks.

The class, which is part of Healthy St. Pete’s Get Fit St. Pete program, is held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 6-7 p.m. at Campbell Park, 601 14^th St. S., and is hosted by Tony Sadiku, a local personal trainer and FOX 13 Tampa Bay’s meteorologist and reporter, who volunteers his time to teach this monthly workout.

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department began providing the free exercise zones in City parks to make fitness accessible and affordable to residents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 37.7% of Pinellas County residents, aged 18 years and older, have high blood pressure, and 37% of Pinellas County residents, ages 18 years and older, have high cholesterol. Healthy St. Pete’s free wellness programs and local partnerships, such as the Get Fit St. Pete program that provides residents with eight free fitness classes a month, actively engages residents to help change health outcomes in the community.

The Exercise Zone Workout is available for all ages and skill levels and works to provide participants with the techniques to continue using exercise zones on their own time to achieve their health and wellness goals. To learn more about Healthy St. Pete’s free fitness classes, visit www.healthystpetefl.com/get-fit or contact the Healthy St. Pete Division at 727-892-5994.

Grants Available for Homeless Service Agencies

Social service agencies that provide homeless services and/or homeless prevention services are invited to apply to take advantage of up to $50,000 in Social Action Funding grants from the City of St. Petersburg. There will be $600,000 available for allocation this year, and contracts will cover the period of Oct. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2022.

Applications will be open May 19-July 5 and can be found at stpete.org/SocialActionFunding.

Priority will be given to agencies that provide services for:

Homeless families with minor or dependent children
Unaccompanied youth
Individuals (who are most vulnerable)
Chronically homeless individuals and Veterans
Victims of domestic violence

Only one application per agency is permitted for competitive funding, except that an agency may submit additional applications for programs which provide any of the following critical services: storage units for personal items belonging to homeless individuals, call centers to assist persons with prevention of homelessness or to assist those who are already homeless, and discretionary funds for street outreach to homeless individuals and families.

To be eligible, applicants must attend the mandatory Bidders/Technical Assistance Workshop, which is currently scheduled to take place virtually via Zoom. The meeting format is subject to change and the workshop may be delivered in person.

Bidders/Technical Assistance Workshop
Friday, June 4, 2021
9-11 a.m.
Zoom Webinar Link found at stpete.org/SocialActionFunding

In Fiscal Year 2021, the City awarded 622,000 in Social Action Funding grants to 13 organizations in the community.

For more information and the application, visit stpete.org/SocialActionFunding or contact Theresa Jones at theresa.jones@stpete.org or 727-893-7627.

Healthy St. Pete Recognizes Organizations in St. Pete that Prioritize Wellness

Healthy St. Pete, an initiative of the City of St. Petersburg and a division of the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, recognized Healthier Together certified workplaces and neighborhoods last month during the Healthier Together Workshop and Awards.

Healthy St. Pete’s Certification Program, developed in 2020, is part of the Healthier Together Initiative and promotes wellness, encourages the adoption of healthy behaviors and establishes supportive communities. Workplaces and neighborhood associations can apply by completing an online assessment that looks at organizational best practices and community health outreach to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of workplace and neighborhood wellness.

Twenty-seven organizations have received recognition from the City of St. Petersburg and Healthy St. Pete as Healthier Together Certified Workplaces or Neighborhoods. There are three levels of certification: gold, silver and bronze. Gold level partners include: Back2Normal Physical Therapy, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Schools, Raymond James Financial, Tampa Bay Times, Volunteers of America of Florida, W3 Insurance and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. Certified partners are recognized at Healthy St. Pete’s quarterly Healthier Together Workshops that provide local business professionals and residents an interactive opportunity to network, collaborate and discuss key issues surrounding health and wellness in the community.

“I love working with Healthy St. Pete,” said Lisa Chase, owner of Back2Normal Physical Therapy. “I recently completed their Healthier Together Certification evaluation to help me identify how to improve the health and well-being of our workplace. It gave me great insight and resource to help us achieve optimal health for our staff and patients.”

An integral part of the certification program is the Community Resource Library with detailed information about how organizations can improve their assessment score. The goal of the certification is to be an evolving process for workplaces and neighborhoods to continually improve.

For more information about the Healthier Together Certification Program, visit healthystpetefl.com/healthier-together or contact Healthy St. Pete at 727-892-5994.

About Healthy St. Pete
Healthy St. Pete, a division of the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department created from an initiative of the City of St. Petersburg, works to build a culture of health in St. Petersburg by making the healthy choice the easy choice through innovative programs and community collaboration. The division improves health outcomes, reduces health inequities, implements policies and programs and encourages the community to eat, shop, live and play healthy in a city where the sun shines on all. Visit HealthyStPeteFL.com to learn more.

About the City of St. Petersburg
One of Florida’s largest cities, the City of St. Petersburg is a city of opportunity where the sun shines on all who come to live, work and play. It’s an innovative, creative and competitive community that honors its past while pursuing its future. Visit StPete.org to learn more.

About the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department
The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, and with 17 recreation facilities, nine swimming pools, over 150 parks and more than 70 athletic fields, the department makes it a mission to preserve and enhance the city’s parklands and recreational facilities and engage the community in leisure activities. Visit StPeteParksRec.org to learn more.

St. Pete Fertilizer Ban Starts June 1

Increased rainfall in the summer months can cause nutrients from fertilizer to reach water bodies and lead to environmental issues like algae blooms, fish kills and water quality problems. To prevent this, the citywide fertilizer ban is in effect June 1 - September 30.

Here are some eco-friendly tips:

Treat your lawn with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring or fertilizer-free micronutrients in the summer to keep your lawn happy all summer.
Pick up any debris or vegetation near storm drains year-round to keep it from entering our waterways.

Other ways to protect our waters:

Follow a no-mow zone six feet from any water body, helping to establish a protective barrier.
Make sure your lawn maintenance/landscaper is certified through Pinellas County.
Replace some or all of your lawn with Florida-friendly natives.

More information at stpete.org/Fertilizer.

Reclaimed Water Discharge Notification – 4.28.2021

Approximately 6,930 gallons of reclaimed water has been discharged at the intersection of 65th Ave. S. and 28th St. S. due to a line break.

Introducing: St. Petersburg's Road to Zero Waste

The City of St. Petersburg has made a goal to be a zero-waste city by 2050. As a coastal city, protecting our natural environment is especially vital to quality of life.

Just in time for Earth Day, the City of St. Petersburg has launched Road to Zero Waste, a campaign to empower those who live, work and play in St. Pete to reduce the amount of waste they produce and help lessen the burden on the planet. By making even small everyday changes, we can all help decrease the waste that ends up in the trash where it can produce greenhouse gases and other pollution.

We all know and love the 3 R’s: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Now there are 6 R’s to help reduce waste:

Refuse products that are destined for the trash after one use.
Reduce items that have excess packaging or products you simply don’t need.
Repair items in your home when possible, don’t just toss them.
Reuse products to reduce waste and save money.
Recycle if you can’t refuse, reduce or reuse items.
Rot and return nutrients to the soil by composting.

Find waste reduction tips and learn how you can help on the Road to Zero Waste at stpete.org/ZeroWaste.

St. Petersburg Meets National Public Works Standards, Earns Accreditation

All four City of St. Petersburg Public Works departments - Engineering & Capital Improvements Department, Fleet Department, Stormwater, Pavement & Traffic Operations Department and Water Resources Department - have been awarded Full Accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA), an independent organization.

Each department was independently audited and went through a rigorous self-assessment process before being evaluated by the American Public Works Association. Being awarded accreditation means that the departments under the Public Works Administration are following national standards of policies and operational procedures as recommended by the American Public Works Association.

“The Accreditation of the City of St. Petersburg Engineering and Capital Improvements Department, Fleet Department, Stormwater Pavement and Traffic Operations Department and Water Resources Department, indicates staff have met all applicable Accreditation documentation and practices over time,” said Public Administrator Claude Tankersley. “The awarding of the APWA Accreditation reflects the dedication from all the staff towards continuous improvement and excellence. We are extremely proud to receive this honor. The champions of this prestigious APWA award are the Public Works staff whose mission is to provide services and programs that contribute to making St. Petersburg a great place to live, work and play.”

The process of going through accreditation provided City teams with external accountability from a third-party organization and access to a greater knowledge base that comes with working with a national organization. Internal procedures have been examined and the culture of continuous improvement has been amplified. The Public Works Administration has made improvements to internal department policy manuals, standard operating procedures and training to allow for increased operational and administrative performance.

What this means for the public:

A focus on efficiency and continuous improvement help ensure that utility rate dollars are spent as wisely as possible.
A high quality of service with optimal customer response times from a knowledgeable workforce made possible by structured procedures and greater accountability.
Greater infrastructure resiliency backed by the City’s shared knowledge base.

The accreditation lasts for 4 years through Feb. 19, 2025.

Learn more about the American Public Works Association, the organization that awarded the City of St. Petersburg with the accreditation, at www.apwa.net.

City of St. Petersburg Supports Meatless Monday Global Movement

Mayor Rick Kriseman proclaims Monday, April 19, Meatless Monday in support of the global movement to support healthy behaviors, increase consumption of plant-based foods, and help the environment.

Meatless Monday is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet. The campaign was started in 2003 by Sid Lerner, in association with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Research shows that eating less meat and more healthy plant-based foods can help reduce the incidence of chronic preventable diseases, preserve land and water resources.

Meatless Monday’s message is simple, skip meat once a week and increase the number of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Research from the American Heart Association that eating less red meat can decrease a person’s risk of developing heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and stroke. It takes 425 gallons of water to produce one quarter of beef. By reducing our meat consumption, we conserve land, reduce our water consumption and greenhouse emissions, and save energy.

The Healthy St. Pete initiative is kicking off a 6-week Meatless Monday campaign to engage the community, and offer resource information for businesses, organizations, schools, and churches to join this global movement. By encouraging a diet rich in healthy plant-based foods and supporting ways to preserve and improve our environment the city is establishing a solid foundation to help its’ citizenry reach and obtain optimal health.

Learn more about the Meatless Monday movement at www.mondaycampaigns.org/meatless-monday and join Healthy St. Pete by taking the Meatless Monday Pledge.

For more information, contact Healthy St. Pete at 727-892-5994 or visit www.HealthyStPeteFL.com.

About Healthy St. Pete

Healthy St. Pete – a division of the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department created from an initiative of the City of St. Petersburg – works to build a culture of health in St. Pete by making the healthy choice the easy choice through innovative programs and community collaboration. The division improves health outcomes, reduces health inequities, implements policies and programs and encourages the community to eat, shop, live and play healthy in a city where the sun shines on all. Visit www.HealthyStPeteFL.com to learn more.

New Pandemic Assistance Program Available for Eligible Renters

Financial help is available for St. Pete residents who are falling behind on rent due to the pandemic.

The City of St. Petersburg is participating in the Pinellas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance for individuals and families who have lost their jobs or have had a significant reduction in income due to the pandemic. Eligible applicants may receive funds to cover missed rent payments and future rent payments, up to 12 months in total.

The City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County hope to stabilize housing and provide greater peace of mind to its most vulnerable renters and their landlords.

Eligible residents can apply on the County’s COVID-19 website at www.bit.ly/pc-rent. Tenants who are overdue on rent should not wait for an eviction notice to seek help and may already be eligible for financial assistance based on the criteria below.

ELIGIBILITY
Emergency Rental Assistance Program applicants must be renter households in which one or more individuals meet all of the following criteria:

Qualifies for unemployment, experienced a significant reduction in income and/or experienced significant financial hardship due to the pandemic.
Is behind on rent payments or at risk of missing a rent payment.
Has a household income at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI), with priority given to households below 50% of the AMI (AMI limits available at www.bit.ly/rental-ami). For a single-person household, 80% of the AMI is $41,350. For a household of four, 80% of the AMI is $59,050. Residents can find more details about eligibility at www.bit.ly/pc-rent.

Funds awarded to eligible applicants must be used to cover past rent payments back to March 13, 2020, first, before they receive additional rental assistance to cover future payments. Rent payments will be made directly to the landlords or property managers of successful applicants.

Homeowners in St. Pete that have been impacted by the pandemic may be eligible for financial assistance through the City of St. Petersburg’s Mortgage & Utility Payment Assistance Grant Program. More information and qualifications can be found at stpete.org/MortgageAssistance.

Showrooms Created to Collect Community Input on Trop Site Redevelopment

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - On Monday, April 12, the City of St. Petersburg will be launching immersive showrooms located throughout the city to encourage residents to review proposals and give feedback regarding the Tropicana Field redevelopment project.

The showrooms are equipped with executive summaries of the proposals, videos, renderings, and the ability to leave input regarding the four shortlisted proposals.

The showroom locations are:

North Library: 861 70th Ave. N.
Mirror Lake Library: 280 5th St. N.
JW Cate Rec Center: 5801 22nd Ave. N.
Enoch Davis Rec Center: 1111 18th Ave. S.

Each showroom location is subject to the established operating hours of the respective library or recreation center.

The showrooms launch after a week of extensive engagement with the potential development partners, where more than 500 residents joined three community input meetings. Community feedback will be collected until the final ribbon is cut on the Tropicana Field redevelopment. Input collected during this shortlist period will be provided to Mayor Rick Kriseman to inform a final development partner selection later this year.

For additional updates about the Tropicana Site redevelopment project, visit stpete.org/trop.

Six Ways to Participate in Water Conservation Month this April

April is Water Conservation Month. St. Pete residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in water-saving practices this month and year-round, with help from the City of St. Petersburg.

Six Ways to Participate in Water Conservation Month:

Attend a free workshop. The City is hosting free virtual workshops during Water Conservation Month and beyond for topics such as Florida landscaping, collecting and irrigating with rainwater, drought tolerant plants and more. Find details at stpete.org/WaterPrograms.
Participate in a water-saving program:
- Sensible Sprinkling Program: Eligible St. Pete utility customers can receive a free sprinkler system evaluation, rain sensor installation and more.
- Rainwater Rebate Program: Eligible St. Pete stormwater customers can get rebates for installing rain barrels, rain totes and/or rain gardens. Eligibility requirements apply.
- Tampa Bay Water Wise Rebates: St. Pete residents and businesses may be eligible for rebate programs from Tampa Bay Water Wise. More at www.TampaBayWaterWise.org.
- Water Incentives Supporting Efficiency: TheSouthwestWater Management District offers rebates for eligible water-saving projects. More at www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/WISE.
Follow the year-round irrigation watering restrictions for potable (drinking), private well and surface water sources by watering only 5 to 9 a.m. or 7 to 11 p.m. on these days:
- Even addresses: Tuesdays & Saturdays
- Odd addresses: Wednesdays & Sundays
Practice everyday water-saving tips, found at stpete.org/WaterConservation
Calculate your household water use at swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/water-use-calculator.
Subscribe to the Water Wise eSplash e-newsletter at stpete.org/enewsletters for water-saving tips, resources and programs all year long.

Conserving water goes beyond Water Conservation Month. The City of St. Petersburg offers programs, rebates, resources, workshops and everyday water-saving tips all year long at stpete.org/WaterConservation.

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Open House May 17

The public is invited to learn about the City's budget for Fiscal Year 2022 and share their thoughts and priorities with the Mayor and City officials.

The Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Open House will take place on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6 p.m. with in-person or virtual attendance options.

Attend In Person:
City Council Chambers
City Hall
175 5th St. N.

In-person attendees are required to maintain social distancing and wear a mask, per The St. Pete Way toolkit found at StPeteRacetoSafe.com.

Attend Virtually:
Virtual meeting details can be found at stpete.org/budget.

Attendance options are subject to change. Up to date meeting information can be found at stpete.org/budget.

Wastewater Discharge Notification – 3.27.2021

Approximately 50 gallons of wastewater has been discharged from a manhole at the intersection of 66th St. S. and 1st Ave. S. The site was cleaned and disinfected.

40th Avenue Bridge Reopens Ahead of Schedule

The City of St. Petersburg is pleased to announce that the next phase of construction and the reopening of the 40th Ave. NE. bridge will begin ahead of schedule on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 5 p.m.

The City and contractor are moving as quickly as possible and construction activity for the replacement of the bridge will continue. This reopening will include a new traffic pattern which will be in place during the first phase of the bridge replacement. Drivers are encouraged to use caution while traveling through this active construction zone.

Every effort is being made to lessen impacts on the residents and the traveling public during the construction phase of the project.

The City of St. Petersburg appreciates the patience of the community during the bridge's closure.

More information at 40thavenuebridge.com.