Latest news with #BrandiGabbard
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Petersburg voters could be asked to decide on new tax to upgrade infrastructure
ST. PETERSBURG — Last year's back-to-back hurricanes, record rainfalls and unprecedented flooding showed a need for accelerating water and stormwater system upgrades as sea levels rise and storms intensify. City officials are responding with a plan to fast-track resiliency projects that had been scheduled to begin in a decade or later. How to fund that plan — $614 million to do some of the needed projects within the next five years — remains an open question. The city is already doing some upgrades funded through utility bill increases. But council members are considering bringing voters a referendum to pay for upgrades with a new property tax in lieu of hiking utility rates again for the plan. City Council members will continue the discussion in future committee meetings. But if ultimately approved by around May, voters would see a referendum on their November 2026 ballot to decide whether they want a new cost on property tax bills to accelerate planned resiliency projects. Among the identified projects are improvements to stormwater drainage and wastewater collection systems, stormwater flood protection and pump stations and wastewater treatment facilities. 'I understand not wanting to put more debt onto future generations,' council member Brandi Gabbard said. 'Our city is less desirable, less sustainable and less resilient for future generations if we don't act now.' If approved with a majority vote, the referendum would authorize taking out general obligation bonds to be paid back over 30 years. Projects would begin following the second quarter of 2027. City officials said they wanted to spread the burden of paying for upgrades to renters, tenants and property owners through a combination of both hiked utility rates increases and an extra property tax. And the city would have more cash up front take on less debt. The city is also expecting to use $25 million from a federal disaster grant to go toward the total tab. But some council members didn't embrace the idea of large utility bill increases. 'The rate increases by themselves, without this program, are starting to become unsustainable,' said council member Mike Harting. 'Selling this on top of that is just one more reason that I think it becomes more difficult to look at rate increases.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of St. Petersburg to launch yearlong planning effort for rapidly growing District 2
The Brief St. Petersburg's District 2 will be the focus of a city-led planning initiative. With its rapid development comes a notable population increase. District 2 now has the second-highest population growth rate in all of St. Petersburg. The planning process will unfold throughout the next year, with numerous opportunities for public input. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - St. Petersburg's District 2, one of the city's fastest-growing areas, is now the focus of a major city-led planning initiative. With redevelopment already underway, city officials are dedicating the next year to crafting a comprehensive master plan—ensuring that the district's future growth is both strategic and community-driven. Dig deeper Located in North St. Pete and connected by both the Gandy and Howard Frankland Bridges, District 2 has become a magnet for development. Construction sites and real estate signs are now common sights across the area. It also serves as a critical employment hub for the region, home to major companies like Raymond James. READ:St. Pete consignment shop abruptly closes, thousands of dollars in designer goods missing Later this year, Foot Locker is set to relocate its corporate headquarters from New York to the district. "This is one of the largest employment centers in the Tampa Bay region," city officials noted, underscoring the district's growing economic significance. With its rapid development comes a notable population increase. District 2 now has the second-highest population growth rate in all of St. Petersburg. But along with this growth comes risk. READ: St. Pete approves projects to make sewer system more resilient About 95 percent of the district lies within a coastal high-hazard zone. Neighborhoods like Riviera Bay were especially hard hit during Hurricane Helene. Infrastructure challenges remain, and with more development on the horizon, city leaders say intentional planning is critical. What they're saying "We wanted to make sure that when this redevelopment comes our way—because we know it's coming—that it comes with an idea that comes from the community, with a guiding document," said District 2 City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard. What's next To help create that vision, the city has hired a consulting firm to work directly with residents and business owners. Over the next year, the firm will gather feedback and help design a long-term master plan that reflects the community's priorities. READ:St. Pete man sailing over 5,500 miles for Ronald McDonald House Charities City planners are also embracing technology to help bring the vision to life. Staff say they'll use ESRI Story Maps—interactive digital maps used in urban planning—to give residents a hands-on way to shape the future of District 2. The planning process will unfold throughout the next year, with numerous opportunities for public input. City officials hope it will result in a thoughtful blueprint for sustainable, inclusive growth in one of St. Pete's most dynamic districts. The Source This story was written with information gathered by FOX 13's Genevieve Curtis. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
St. Petersburg officials approve $22.5M to replace Tropicana Field roof
St. Petersburg officials approve $22.5M to replace Tropicana Field roof Show Caption Hide Caption Hurricane Milton's winds rip roof off baseball stadium roof in Florida The roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team, was torn off by Hurricane Milton's powerful winds. The city council in St. Petersburg, Florida, voted Thursday to replace the roof of Tropicana Field, which was destroyed in October by Hurricane Milton. St. Petersburg owns the ballpark and is contractually obligated to provide the Tampa Bay Rays with a playable home. The new Teflon-coated fiberglass roof will cost the city $22.5 million. The council voted 7-1 in favor of the project. "I'd much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods," council member Brandi Gabbard told the Tampa Bay Times, "but this is our obligation." The Rays are expected to return to the indoor facility for the 2026 season. The damages to Tropicana Field came amid a longstanding tussle between Rays ownership and local government over the future of the club in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays wanted to build a new ballpark that would cost $1.3 billion, and local officials had approved the sale of bonds to pay for their share, but the Rays could not move forward because of the project's shifted timeline and cost overruns. The Rays are playing the 2025 season in George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the AL East division rival New York Yankees. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Reuters
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
St. Pete officials approve $22.5M to replace Tropicana Field roof
April 4 - The city council in St. Petersburg, Fla., voted Thursday to replace the roof of Tropicana Field, which was destroyed in October by Hurricane Milton. St. Petersburg owns the ballpark and is contractually obligated to provide the Tampa Bay Rays with a playable home. The new Teflon-coated fiberglass roof will cost the city $22.5 million. The council voted 7-1 in favor of the project. "I'd much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods," council member Brandi Gabbard told the Tampa Bay Times, "but this is our obligation." The Rays are expected to return to the indoor facility for the 2026 season. The damages to Tropicana Field came amid a longstanding tussle between Rays ownership and local government over the future of the club in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays wanted to build a new ballpark that would cost $1.3 billion, and local officials had approved the sale of bonds to pay for their share, but the Rays could not move forward because of the project's shifted timeline and cost overruns. The Rays are playing the 2025 season in George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the American East rival New York Yankees.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rays on track for Tropicana Field return in 2026 as St. Petersburg approves $22.5 million for new roof
Rays on track for Tropicana Field return in 2026 as St. Petersburg approves $22.5 million for new roof St. Petersburg is poised to spend more than $50 million so the Rays can play at Tropicana Field for three more seasons. (Photo by) (Kirby Lee via Getty Images) The Tampa Bay Rays are officially on track to have a home again in St. Petersburg. The bigger question remains how long they will stay. The St. Petersburg city council voted 7-1 on Thursday to approve $22.5 million for a new Tropicana Field roof after Hurricane Milton shredded the last one, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The new roof will reportedly be made of the same teflon-coated fiberglass of the old roof. Advertisement That step covers roughly half of the estimated $55.7 million the stadium needs for its full repairs, with additional work required inside the stadium. The city of St. Petersburg was contractually obligated to repair Tropicana Field as part of its landlord agreement with the Rays, who have been open with their intentions to leave the stadium as soon as it finds a new home. The team pulled out of a $1.3 billion agreement to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg last month and have been speculated to be ready to move to a new city, with Orlando as a possibility. In the meantime, the Rays have begun playing the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees and the stadium used by the Yankees' Single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons. The Rays are currently expected to return to Tropicana Field next season and remain there through 2024. The St. Petersburg city council didn't sound particularly enthusiastic about spending eight figures to repair a stadium for three more years of use, but on member indicated they didn't really have a choice, via the Times: 'I'd much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods,' said council member Brandi Gabbard, 'but this is our obligation.' Advertisement The lone "No" vote on the council, Richie Floyd, said he would have liked to see how expensive a settlement with the Rays would have been compared to the expense of repairing the stadium. For the Rays' part, team president Brian Auld said the team is happy with the vote and planning for a return on Opening Day of 2026: 'We are pleased to see City Council take this important step toward preparing Tropicana Field for Major League Baseball in time for 2026 Opening Day,' Auld said in a statement Thursday. 'We commend in particular City, Rays, and MLB staff for their cooperative efforts to get us to this point.' Some groups that aren't happy with the situation, beyond the city council, are the Rays' fans, who chanted "sell the team" at Opening Day, and the MLB commissioner's office, which is reportedly sending a similar message behind closed doors to team owner Stuart Sternberg.
