St. Pete City Council could have another contentious meeting this week as it prepares to approve or deny Mayor Rick Kriseman’s $20 million ask for improvements to the Pier Uplands to complement the Pier Park plan already in the works to replace the iconic inverted pyramid.
Changes to the city’s Intown Redevelopment Plan, or IRP, would allocate $20 million toward Pier Uplands improvements, including two restaurant shells near the St. Petersburg Museum of History and where the Pelican parking lot currently sits, a grand entry way to the Pier and other projects aimed at connecting Pier Park with the bustling downtown.
At issue is whether or not the entire $20 million made available in the tax incremental fund should be allocated to the uplands proposal. Council members expressed at least a modicum of concern over whether that was a fair use of funding considering the district covers much of downtown.
If City Council approves the plan, the changes to the IRP would go before the Pinellas County Commission by October 20.
The issue is likely to get pushback from activists still upset over how the city has handled the Pier process to date. That group argues the Pier Park plan is likely to come with additional costs not accounted for in the $37 million construction budget and could lead to residents getting a Pier less than what the city bargained for. Adding another $20 million to plans surrounding the Pier project could buttress that argument.
That group is attempting to shut down the Pier Park proposal through a petition effort that would ask voters whether or not they should have a say at the ballot box on any downtown construction or demolition. However, it’s unclear whether there has been any movement on that petition drive. The organizer, Tom Lambdon, is keeping his cards close to his chest on progress.
Other issues that could come up during Thursday’s 8:30 a.m. meeting include the city’s proposed Biosolids to Energy project. That issue has been thrust into the limelight after the city dumped 15 million gallons of untreated sewage into the fragile Clam Bayou. That measure would approve a Construction Manager at Risk agreement with the Haskell company for pre-construction services.
City Council members are also set to consider increases to the city’s utility rates for fiscal year 2016. If approved, the rates would increase by a net $2.85 or 2.71 percent. That includes increases to potable water fees, wastewater and reclaimed water.
Customers are already paying an additional $2.95 for universal curbside recycling that rolled out this summer.
City Council members will also discuss a proposed expenditure allowing the purchase of land adjacent to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, which is expected to allow additional conservation efforts for the protected land in South St. Pete.
