City Transportation staff are meeting with residents and businesses in July to finalize the Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. N. redesign plan between 4^th and 30^th Aves. N., taking into account current and future transportation needs, economic development and safety goals. Following community meetings in November 2017-June, a concept involving turning one of five traffic lanes into a bicycle lane in each direction and adding several crosswalks has emerged as the preferred alternative. This proposal is based on transportation data and community feedback. Transportation staff will continue talking with and receiving feedback from citizens and businesses over the coming weeks, which could result in changes to the current proposed plan. A final decision on design is expected in early August.  Construction is anticipated to begin later this summer with expected completion in late 2018. Read more.

City staff and City Council considered utility rate increases on August 2, 2018 at first reading during a City Council meeting. The following rates increases have been proposed and will be further discussed at a public hearing being held on August 23, 2018 at the regularly scheduled council meeting. That hearing is open to the public.

Rate increases are being considered in order to fund much needed investments in aging infrastructure. Additionally, rate increases will assist in lowering our cash to debt ratio, which will save the city hundreds of millions of dollars in interest rates over the next few decades.

If approved, utility rate increases would take effect on October 1, 2018. Customers could see adjustments to monthly sanitation and stormwater fees on their October bills; rate increases for water, wastewater and reclaimed water would appear on their November bills.
 
More information on public utilities is available at www.stpete.org/utility. 

The St. Pete Pier moved closer to completion with several important votes by St. Petersburg City Council on August 2:

• An artist agreement with Janet Echelman for a Net Sculpture within the St. Pete Pier district was approved.

• A referendum to extend the 10-year lease for the "Pier Building" to entire overwater structure, including Tampa Bay Watch, operator of the Education Center.

• Agreement with Skanska USA for additional pre-construction services related to the Pier head building, the Pier Approach and Janet Echelman Net Sculpture.

• Additional design and construction administrative services with W Architecture for the Pier Approach project, including infrastructure of the Janet Echelman Net Sculpture and redesign of a portion of the Pier Approach project.

• Additional design and construction administrative services with ASD and Rogers Architecture

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking an interested business and/or property owner, resident or stakeholder to fill one vacancy on the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).

The City will be accepting resumes until August 28, 2018, at 5 p.m. and expects to have an appointee confirmed by City Council in time for the CAC meeting on October 2, 2018. The term of service will end on January 31, 2020, with the new member eligible to serve two additional three-year terms. Please apply online at Application to South St. Petersburg CAC where you can also upload a cover letter and resume.

The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), created by an interlocal agreement between St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, is the City’s first redevelopment advisory committee and is comprised of nine members of whom six are appointed by the Mayor and three appointed by the County Commission. The CAC advises the St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Agency on the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Plan and any amendments thereto as well as other issues and policies pertaining to the CRA. For more information about the CRA Citizen Advisory Committee, please visit: stpete.org/cra