Mayor Welch Highlights Progress and Priorities After 100 Days in Office

On Friday, Mayor Kenneth T. Welch celebrated his 100th  day in office. The milestone is an opportunity to reflect on his administration’s early accomplishments, evaluate how his actions align with his pillars for progress, and continue to look forward to the next steps in office. 

“This is an important time for our city. It is an important opportunity to reflect on who we are as a city — to understand our history and culture, develop a clear-eyed  consensus on the opportunities and challenges facing us, and to develop impactful plans or opportunity agendas, to build a path to progress for every St. Petersburg resident, worker, visitor and stakeholder,” said Mayor Ken Welch. 

“The first 100 days have been enlightening. We confirmed just how much progress can be accomplished when we come together with common goals, unified in purpose, to  address the challenges before us.” 

The Welch administration utilizes six principles for accountable and responsive government: in-touch, inclusive, innovative, informed, impactful and intentional equity.  These principles are applied to five pillars for progress including housing opportunities for all; environment, infrastructure and resilience; equitable development, arts and business opportunities; youth education and opportunity; and neighborhood health  and safety. 

By focusing on these key areas and utilizing these important principles, our administration has already increased affordable housing stock, improved internal policies  to benefit city employees, reinvigorated community relationships, established new programs to boost equity, and so much more.  

First 100 days accomplishments: 

Housing Opportunities for All  

— Down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers: In early February, just over a month into his administration, Mayor Welch signed off on a policy change increasing the amount of down payment assistance available to first-time homebuyers to $60,000.  The city also expanded its loan forgiveness policy for the assistance, allowing full-forgiveness to those earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) after 10-years of continued occupancy in the home. For those earning above 80% AMI, full repayment  was previously required. Under the new policy, those individuals could qualify for half loan forgiveness.  

— Homeowner Rehabilitation Assistance Program: The city also expanded its program for existing homeowners to make needed improvements to their homes, ensuring residents are able to stay in the homes they  already own. Under the previous policy, homeowners in the extremely low-income to moderate-income range could receive up to $45,000 for home repairs and improvements, with up to 50% reimbursement required over 15 years. The new policy increased the funding  available to qualifying homeowners to $60,000 and is now offering full-forgiveness of the loan to households earning at or below 80% AMI after 10-years of continued occupancy in the home. 

— South St. Petersburg CRA Developer Incentive Program-Land Acquisition Incentive: Also implemented in early February, the city expanded the amount available to developers constructing affordable single-family homes within the South St. Petersburg CRA.  Previously, developers could tap into a direct $10,000 incentive for homes constructed within the CRA targeting buyers at or below 120% AMI. The city added a new reimbursement of up to half of the land acquisition cost to developers, up to $40,000, if the  developer sells the new single-family home to a buyer at or below 80% AMI. The city also increased its standard incentive from $10,000 to $15,000, with the existing 120% AMI threshold still in place if the buyer is already a resident renter within the CRA.  

More information on these three changes here.

— Delmar 745: In early March, residents began moving into the Delmar 745 affordable housing project in downtown St. Pete. The project provides access to true affordable and workforce housing within a 12-story, 65-unit apartment community. 
Half of the units (33) are targeted for individuals and families who were formerly unhoused. The city partnered with developer McCormack Baron Salazar on the project,  with Boley Centers providing on-site access to social services for renters.  

More information on Delmar 745 here.

— Skyway Lofts: This 65-unit affordable housing complex located at 3900 34th St. South opened its doors to residents in early February, with an official grand opening in late March. 

The apartment community serves households earning up to 120% AMI, with units reserved for those at or below 30% and 80% AMI. 

More information on SkyWay Lofts here.

— Emergency Rental Assistance: In partnership with Pinellas County government, the St. Petersburg City Council approved in mid-March expanding access to Emergency Rental Assistance funding from the County.    

Due to increased demand for assistance, the city exhausted all of its $16 million available for rental assistance. The County agreed to make $18 million from its portion of the American Rescue Plan Act available to St. Pete residents, which was previously only accessible to residents residing within the county.  

The deal also included expanding access to those who reside in motels and other short-term housing who were previously ineligible for the assistance.  

Under the agreement, qualifying households will receive assistance for up to 120-days, subject to fund availability. The expanded access is crucial for St. Pete residents.  More than 43% of the county’s low- and moderate-income residents reside within the city, despite only 27% of the county’s residents living within city limits.  

— Harvard Kennedy Affordable Housing Study: This comprehensive affordable housing study completed by a team of graduate students from the Harvard Kennedy School evaluated existing challenges the city faces with affordable housing, possible solutions and  future information-gathering needs.  The study sought to answer four questions: What does affordable housing mean for St. Pete; what factors have caused St. Pete’s current housing crisis; what policies are most effective/ineffective for addressing housing  affordability; and who do various policy options serve, and who do they exclude?  

The study found the price of new rentals in St. Petersburg jumped nearly 25% in 2021, the third highest increase in the nation. One reason for the increase in prices  is that, as demand for housing has increased, supply has not caught up. The study found that from 2020 to 2021, investor purchases of residential land increased by 79%. From 2011 to 2021, investor residential purchases increased 520%. 

More information on the Harvard Kennedy Study here.

Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience  

— Transportation leadership: Mayor Welch has been a leader in the transit and transportation space for well over a decade, including 10 years of service as a board member for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority with various stints as the board’s chair.  He served and continues to serve as a relentless advocate for all modes of transportation including quality public transportation that serves all citizens and visitors of Pinellas County and St. Petersburg.  

This robust resume provides the administration with experienced leadership to continue progress in the transportation space within our city.  

— Scooter agreement renewal: The city has now completed a pilot program deploying scooters throughout the city and received unanimous support from City Council for a three-year agreement with two operators to continue service with extended hours so more  people can utilize affordable, fun, environmentally-friendly mobility for live, work and play.  

To date, the program has provided more than 500,000 rides, with 41% of riders surveyed indicating they rode a scooter in lieu of a motor vehicle. Further, the city’s  first-in-the-nation mandatory corral-based parking has become a nationally accepted best-practice.  

— New rapid flashing beacon-equipped crosswalks in South St. Petersburg: Part of the city’s Complete Streets Plan, City Council approved, and Mayor Welch supported adding five new high-emphasis crosswalks in South St. Petersburg. The new crosswalks will  increase safety by better alerting motorists to crossing pedestrians and cyclists.  

— Skyway Trail connection: The city completed in March a new trail connection from 34th Street to the Skyway Trail along 30th Ave. South, called for in the Skyway Marina District Improvement Plan. The new connection links the Skyway Trail to the Clam Bayou  Trail, the Bayway Trail and the Pinellas Trail, providing a safe pedestrian and cyclist corridor to benefit local residents, workers and visitors.  

Mayor Welch supported adding a new high-emphasis crosswalk serving the connection at 30th  Ave. South and 37th Street to allow residents in  surrounding neighborhoods to have safe, convenient access to various trails. Mayor Welch approved moving forward with funding the design and construction of the new crosswalk as well as four others in South St. Pete.  

— Safe Streets Pinellas: This month, the administration agreed to sign onto the Safe Streets Pinellas Vision Zero approach to traffic safety. Initially launched by Forward Pinellas, the agreement augments the city’s Complete Streets Program to guide the  city toward safer streets for all roadway users. The administration is also seeking a sidewalk masterplan to ensure safe pedestrian corridors. 

— 2022 Regional Resilience Summit participation: Mayor Welch joined other area Mayors and City Council Vice Chair Brandi Gabbard for the leadership summit, including in a panel discussion with other area Mayors to better collaborate on regional sustainability  and resilience.  

The Summit tackled issues including affordable housing, stormwater infrastructure, electric vehicle accessibility, multi-modal transportation and funding, including  targeting federal funding, and the need for increased cooperation on ways to adapt to climate change.   

— Federal funding opportunities for our Integrated Sustainability Action Plan: Congress approved $1.2 trillion dollars in its Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act to provide competitive funding opportunities for states, cities, towns and municipalities  for various infrastructure programs including $73 billion to update electric grids, $65 billion for broadband, $47 billion for climate resilience, $21 billion for environmental projects, $15 billion for removing lead service lines and $7.5 billion for electric  vehicle charging stations.  

The administration is pursuing grants under this program, prioritizing projects within the Integrated Sustainability Action Plan. The goal is to pursue funding for  projects that fit within the federal framework, but that also fit within the city’s plans to position St. Pete as a sustainable and resilient location. Our Office of Sustainability and Resilience, Public Works, Engineering, Capital Improvements and City Administration  are working with the city’s grant team to identify attainable funding opportunities.  

Equitable Development, Arts and Business Opportunities    

— Albert Whitted Airport: Mayor Welch has called upon city staff to conduct an economic and community impact study of the Albert Whitted site to evaluate the entire site under a variety of uses.  

An economic study has not been conducted on the airport since 2018 and much has changed since then. Our community, along with the rest of the world, has evolved through  a global pandemic, our economy has changed significantly, and residents and visitors have reimagined many of their priorities for public land. Additionally, that study evaluated only economic impact, and its scope focused only on plans to extend the airport’s  main runway. The Florida Department of Transportation conducted a study in 2018 that also only explored impact as an airport. 

— Tropicana Field site redevelopment: City officials this month sent a list of 15 questions to two prospective Tropicana Field site developers — Midtown Development and Sugar Hill Community Partners. As he pledged on the campaign trail and in the early  days of his administration, Mayor Welch is committed to ensuring the eventual developer’s plans for the city check all five of his administration’s pillars for progress and principles for accountable and responsive government. 

The additional questions seek to provide further clarity on how plans can adapt to changes that have occurred since the proposals were first developed, including new  supply chain challenges and labor shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and new projections for office space as more and more businesses have adopted work from home and hybrid office models.  

The questions also address developers’ knowledge of the city’s structural racism study showing Black residents are disproportionately prone to lower wages and higher  mortality.  

One key component of the latest round of inquiries involves developers’ commitments to honoring the community that was displaced by Tropicana Field’s initial construction,  then known as the Gas Plant district. Mayor Welch is demanding equity for that community in any redevelopment plan.  

— Implementation of the CBA: In 2021, City Council approved the Community Benefits Agreement program as a major step toward more equitable economic growth. It creates a process that considers the social and community impact of major development plans.   

The city launched the program last month by requesting applications for the newly created Community Benefits Advisory Committee (CBAC) — a non-partisan board that advises  the Mayor, City Council and the citizens of St. Pete on implementation of the City’s Community Benefit Agreement Program (CBA Program). 

More information on the CBA here.

More information on the CBAC here.

Innovation and Inclusive Progress  

— ARK Innovation Center Groundbreaking – February 13, 2022: This facility, which will stand on 2.5 acres of land donated by the City of St. Petersburg, is the first in Pinellas County to be purposely constructed as an incubator for entrepreneurs and new start-ups. 

Once complete, the ARK Innovation Center, a collaboration between the Tampa Bay Innovation Center and Cathie Woods’ Ark Invest, will nurture and develop talent and  technology, generating an expected economic impact of $28 million from the approximately 1,265 direct and indirect jobs it creates. When fully functional, ARK’s clients and graduates are expected to generate $127 million in annual revenue. 

— Maritime Defense and Technology HUB Ribbon Cutting – March 2, 2022:  The city successfully repurposed the nearly vacant 38,000 sq. ft. former SRI building, for which the city provided the waterfront land and helped build in 2009, into a revenue-generating, shared space concept.  

The HUB brings together under one roof the triple helix of innovation: industry, government, and academia. It is home to 19 business and  technology start-ups. In its first two years, sub-tenants of the HUB are expected to place nearly 120 new jobs at the HUB with an average salary of $100,000-$125,000. Many of these jobs will be new to the St. Petersburg area. This will result  in an economic impact to St. Petersburg of 182 combined direct, indirect and induced jobs, generating $14.9M in new salaries. The initial sub-tenants report a pipeline of potential contracts valued at $500M.  

The HUB also houses the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation, which will coordinate statewide efforts between academics and researchers to address  the critical issues of flooding and sea level rise.  

— The USF Interdisciplinary Center for Excellence in Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences (EOS): Created in January 2022 on the USFSP campus, EOS is a partner with the HUB and Innovation District. The city and Welch administration aggressively advocated  for state funding of $70M in the proposed 2023 fiscal year state budget. 

The proposed new $80M Environmental & Oceanographic Sciences Research & Teaching Facility, located a few hundred yards from the HUB at the USF College of Marine Science,  will also be a driver for the continued success of the HUB’s shared space concept. The Florida Legislature approved funding of $75M in March 2022. 

— The Generator — USF Contemporary Art Museum’s new Digital Arts Gallery — Ribbon Cutting, February 20, 2022: The Generator is a new Digital Arts Gallery and visual arts innovation space in the Warehouse Arts District. In partnership with the city,  USF’s Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), and USF College of The Arts created a new, innovative digital art space at The Factory. CAM will be uniquely programming for the new space with cutting edge digital art projects. 

The Generator is located in the South St. Petersburg Community  Redevelopment Area (CRA). 

Internal milestones 

— $15 minimum wage for ALL city employees: St. Petersburg City Council approved a $15 minimum wage for city employees in 2015, but it left some employees behind through a carve-out for part-time employees with fewer than five years’ experience with the  city. 

The Welch administration believes all its employees should have access to a livable wage and eliminated that loophole by expanding the $15 minimum wage to all employees,  regardless of hours worked or experience on the job.  

— Union negotiations: Negotiations with the city’s employee union were overdue when Mayor Welch took office Jan. 6. By mid-February, per Mayor Welch’s guidance, the city reached an agreement with the Florida Public Service Union to provide 3% general wage  increases for employees retroactive to the start of fiscal year 2022 (September 27, 2021) and another 3% general wage increase for fiscal year 2023. In addition, the agreement also included a 3% progression increase on employees’ employment anniversary, also  retroactive to the start of fiscal year 2022 and in effect again for fiscal year 2023.  

The agreement was reached with intentionality, inclusivity and equity in mind, and was established to be competitive with other city and county government positions  within the region, in some cases exceeding precedent.  

— Increased travel reimbursement for employees: With gas prices and other travel expenses on the rise, the administration took the opportunity to review its rate for mileage and travel expense reimbursement, opting to utilize the Internal Revenue Service’s  optional standard mileage rate of 58.5 cents per mile, up from 29 cents per mile. The increase more equitably compensates employees who must travel as part of their job duties and represents the administration’s commitment to identifying policy change needs  to better support its workforce.  

— Meetings with city departments: As part of his commitment to remaining in-touch, Mayor Welch has met with frontline employees from a number of city departments to communicate  directly with the people who are providing city services that benefit all constituents.  

As of April 15, Mayor Welch has met with: Housing and Community Development; Water Resources; Engineering and Capital Improvements; City Development Administration;  Fire Rescue; Parks and Recreation; Sanitation; and Public Works (stormwater, pavement and traffic operations). 

— Structural racism: Following up on a structural racism study, Mayor Welch has moved forward with funding for a new Equity Office within city government, a recommendation that is now being fulfilled.  

The city commissioned the University of South Florida to conduct a structural racism study in 2021, which found increased mortality rates among Black residents fueled  by reduced access to healthy food, health care, affordable housing and stable job opportunities.  

Work on additional recommendations is underway, with plans to workshop next steps with a facilitator and a meeting with the administration to update action plans in  the coming weeks. 

More information on the study here.

— Implementation of disparity study recommendations: The city commissioned in 2019 a Women-and Minority- Owned Business Enterprise Availability and Utilization Disparity Study to examine the extent to which disparities exist in the City’s procurement practices  and use of qualified minority and women-owned enterprises as contractors and subcontractors.  

We are beginning the process to create equitable economic opportunity by increasing our contracting with diverse suppliers and vendors for professional  services, construction, and other goods and services. The city has begun to implement recommendations from the disparity study, starting with selecting  David Malone as the city’s new Director of Procurement. With a new leader to helm the city’s procurement procedure changes, we intend to eliminate historic barriers to city contractor participation.   

In addition to city policies, feedback from our local women- and minority-owned businesses has guided our decision to launch programs that will  build and nurture a pipeline of certified diverse suppliers with skills and services accessible to the city and all businesses. 

More information here.

We are in-touch 

— Re-establishing relationships with Rays, community partners: Mayor Welch knows that success is a team effort, and progress is best accomplished when we work together. That’s why he’s made rebuilding relationships a top priority in his first 100-days in  office, including with the Tampa Bay Rays, County Commissioners, members of City Council and community stakeholders and residents.  

Mayor Welch has met with Rays leadership several times to discuss the team’s future in the region. Talks have been positive, and the Rays’ executive team has renewed  its commitment to working with the city and other partners on plans moving forward.  

Conversations about the future of Major League Baseball in St. Pete also include open dialogues with County Commissioners, many of whom Mayor Welch served with during  his two decades as a County Commissioner.

He has also committed to and has been conducting regular meetings with City Council Chair Gina Driscoll and members of City Council individually to discuss ongoing  city priorities and opportunities.  

— Meetings with community stakeholders and partners: Mayor Welch has moved swiftly to respond to the hundreds of invitations to attend meetings and meet with Tampa Bay elected officials. He welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors  to the Grand Prix and hosted guests from around the world. He has visited local schools, played baseball with Kids and Kubs, and attended the World Affairs Council Opening, Localtopia,  Saturday Morning Shoppe and created and reignited relationships with community stakeholders, including the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Corporation, and the Downtown Partnership. In addition, Mayor Welch visited with statewide  officials during the 2022 legislative session in Tallahassee.  

— Community Conversations: Partnering with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, the Downtown Partnership and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Mayor Welch held three Community Conversations Dec. 10-13, two in-person and one virtual,  to hear from members of the St. Petersburg community about their opinions on five areas: housing opportunities for all; equitable development and business opportunities; environment, infrastructure and resilience; education and youth opportunities; and neighborhood  health and safety.   

Residents and stakeholders were later asked to rank themes identified into their top-three areas of concern. The results are being used to further develop priority  issues. 

More information on Community Conversations here.

Looking Forward 

— New affordable housing: Construction is currently underway on The Shores, located at 31st Street South and 26th Avenue, which will include 51 affordable units, and at Jordan Park, which includes a new 60-unit affordable housing building and the renovation  of 206 affordable rental units. 

Last week, we received support from City Council for a new 264-unit apartment development near Gibbs High. All the units will be affordable and workforce housing, some  to families making 50% of the Area Median Income (or about $12/hr).  This is the first development of its kind in the state under HB 1339, which allows municipal governments “to approve development of affordable housing on any parcel zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use.” This is how innovation, collaboration  and common purpose move us to success.   

Work is currently underway to expand zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units and Neighborhood Traditional Multi-Family (NTM) zoning districts to create opportunities for  more affordable housing options. 

— Youth Opportunity Agenda: Economic mobility and the opportunity to create wealth is what every individual and family in St. Petersburg deserves. Learning skills, critical thinking, and even how to pay bills and manage finances is part of a lifelong continuum.  It begins with youth engagement and education by reimagining how we put them on a trajectory for success. 

As technology takes hold in every industry, we must be innovative in our approach for providing resources and opportunities for young people to master these skills. 

Our administration is taking a deep dive into existing infrastructure — our city internship program, after school programming and mentorship opportunities — to identify  areas where we can expand, build and excel.  

— American Rescue Plan Act wraparound services: ARPA funding is an opportunity to address root causes within systemic issues that lead to housing insecurity. Mayor Welch plans to utilize funding to address these issues. The funds will be deployed through  a subrecipient to establish “one-stop-shops” in community locations to provide easy access to our most vulnerable residents. The centers will serve as coordinated service hubs providing trauma-informed support services, including access to case managers, therapists,  and outreach.  

Funds will be available to address immediate crisis payments, such as rent, utilities, food, childcare assistance, and health care needs. Funds will also be available  for capital improvements, as needed, at the community locations for the “one-stop-shops.” ARPA funding will help launch a support services organization to build capacity within nonprofit organizations providing services. A full array of administrative services  will be provided to nonprofits to build internal capacity for future competitive grant opportunities.   

ARPA funds will create a sustainable network of accessible healthy foods by working with small corner/convenience stores to make healthy foods available in neighborhoods  that currently lack them. Funds will help develop a city-wide holistic food system planning process that provides strategy to drive future initiatives. This foundational work is needed to solve inequitable access to healthy foods across our city.  

ARPA funds will also increase Youth Development Grants to better meet the demand for tutoring, literacy, after school programming and other services to address COVID-related  achievement gaps. In addition, ARPA funds will be used to purchase refrigeration at city recreation centers to improve the quantity and quality of food delivered through the federal summer food program.  

Finally, ARPA funds will be used to pilot a guaranteed income program for youth aging out of foster care. Other cities across the country are piloting such programs  to ensure citizens have an income floor. For youth aging out of foster care, that guaranteed income floor is an important launchpad for entering adulthood. 

— Permitting: In the coming months, the administration plans to implement a two-year period of reduced fees for residential and commercial permits. We will use existing funding in the Special Building Fund to make system improvements to ease the permitting  process for a better customer experience. 

‍