[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6425587,"mediaKeyId","5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02","parentId",5897627,"title","Mayor directs staff to pursue new Science Center facility; city seeks agreement and timeline","audioSeconds",650,"startMs",3169000,"endMs",3819000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02&start=3169&end=3819","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02/thumbnail_3169000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6425587/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Mayor-directs-staff-to-pursue-new-Science-Center-facility-city-seeks-agreement-and-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425587-4e42935fb87d1ce4d3e783946d11191f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181396&Signature=issQaxHr72OxtViHX~TrmMHPBi7Kjxb3Uivp4BH1TBiKDRMvuq-aa9-Wg0~YZVx9HoUv7T4A3FTV5f81IorYSY1Jbn82T9RP6IXkJ27w9PJQcjycrcqZprlWT6L3L-K~Y1LRFdPZCvS5US-C8RDgXMbsyUJY7ZLf-DMDe0AcABnMczuvD20D~1x57BAhfHUAaWhWMyR5EM03PUtVtNZ~nFNtz4xC5Dyq4vOgZBOUYS31XXPEStpMflzoEASYt7X10IUxLZjSfgwG5RLZEt8--TKGOJTp0Be8Xs5mDenvh7OOe69-LY~QV8AWfHpkPYyjs3YAOBf2i~KTh1TPP3hHGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of St. Petersburg, FL ","date","2025-10-02T00:00:00Z","article","City staff told the St. Petersburg City Council on Oct. 2 that, following direction from Mayor Ken Welch, the administration is moving forward to negotiate an agreement for a new Science Center facility and is reengaging on property options abutting the site.

Rob (city staff) said the mayor had directed staff to bring an agreement to council for a new Science Center facility and that staff were working with the city attorney's office and property owner representatives to finalize terms. \"He has directed staff to move forward on bringing an agreement to city council for a new facility at the Science Center,\" Rob said.

Council member Driscoll pressed for a timeline; Rob said many steps depend on legal review and negotiations with the other party but suggested staff hoped to present an agreement to council within about 90 days. Aaron Fish, director of real estate and property management, confirmed that revised agreements require legal review before sending to the property owner for final approval.

Driscoll also raised concerns about the cost of a previously completed feasibility study, saying she found a related task order for $95,095 and noting that the city’s approval threshold had previously been $100,000. \"That does stand out ... the total amount of that task order was $95,095. The threshold by which approval of spending by city approval by city council is required for spending is $100,000,\" Driscoll said, adding the proximity to the threshold merited follow‑up.

City legal staff said the agreement and related consultant work are under review; bond counsel has offered to consult with the independent qualified consultant preparing required letters so the consultant will not be asked to do more work than necessary to satisfy bond covenants. Vice Chair Lizeth Hanowitz asked whether the qualified independent consultant letter — referenced earlier as part of the bond and feasibility process — was in motion; staff said Stantec is handling that work but the city did not provide a final cost figure during the meeting.

Council members asked staff to provide written updates and to return with status reports; Driscoll asked for more frequent communications. Staff said they would provide verbal and written updates and that council would be informed as steps progress.

No formal council action was taken at this presentation; the item was an informational update and council asked staff to return with more detail on costs, the consultant letter and a timeline for an agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council October 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Ken Welch directed staff to pursue an agreement for a new Science Center facility. Staff told council they have reengaged with the property owner and expect to bring an agreement for council consideration, possibly within about 90 days, but final timing depends on reviews and negotiations.","taxTitle","St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",3508,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425592,"Council approves $159.88 million HUD CDBG‑DR grant and staffing plan for storm recovery; residential program could launch in November",1196,2079000,3275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02&start=2079&end=3275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02/thumbnail_2079000.jpg","/articles/6425592/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-approves-15988-million-HUD-CDBGDR-grant-and-staffing-plan-for-storm-recovery-residential-program-could-launch-in-November","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425592-682f34a8277d59c71cefc4cc9dfa136b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181396&Signature=FptOaj2FNgfiix~CT4xT36tKYFs0YJ-Gkj5-PmMsLWWwdwIcJRKNhIR0irw8a505myozu0jRMziipRxwV8IKvgltdZefqvP7rLGcdNCnNQy9OlBVa5dLn0yD9XxYRR275~TM085R2k-Gbwau1qhanqv-dzuhKfrLLWroXNn5PMiHQh3e6nJQqvtGd7aP8899551QINhSMHWsctNo5rHpJFIvuzLkvmEYL14svLxuUM5tVVEz7PpiVF-d65bjhIv3fVdvLDBLMQjwOkbDO9hX-CIPoKDMrHngM6VXeQnIpt6XB4Gw8fgmi9yPgUYiR7~0se1em3T5dzOH~p8tSs8OWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 2 to accept a federal Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and appropriate the remainder of the funds for storm recovery programs.

Aubrey Phillips, strategic initiatives and grants director, told council staff are seeking authorization to accept a CDBG‑DR award totaling $159,880,000 and to appropriate the remaining $146,930,000 that council had not previously budgeted. Phillips said council previously appropriated $12,950,000 and the grant carries a six‑year performance period.

\"We're requesting today authorization to accept ... CDBG‑DR funds from HUD,\" Phillips said during the presentation. She said HUD had named Hurricanes Bridal and Helene as the qualifying storms for the allocation and that staff had asked HUD for guidance on residents affected by Hurricane Milton.

Phillips said the grant requires that at least 70% of funds benefit low‑ and moderate‑income households, and described priority programs in the Sunrise Saint Pete action plan: a residential recovery and elevation program, a public infrastructure mitigation program, and disaster relief reimbursements. She also described a staffing and implementation approach that combines new grant‑funded city hires with implementation vendors; the presentation named roles including a program manager, compliance officer, financial analyst and a construction/environmental officer and identified Horn as the vendor contracted to implement residential programs.

\"To build capacity and facilitate the quick implementation ... we're recommending a hybrid model that uses a mix of new staff ... and the expertise of our implementation support vendors,\" Phillips said.

Phillips told council that, despite concerns about a federal government shutdown at the time of the meeting, HUD had issued guidance indicating the disaster recovery programs are funded through multi‑year appropriations and were not expected to be delayed.

Council members asked about outreach, intake and coordination with Pinellas County. Phillips and staff said they are developing targeted outreach materials and a partner toolkit and are coordinating with the county so residents can reach the appropriate intake portal. Staff said more than 300 entities have signed up for information; Administrator Foster said the city has more than 100 households already identified as potential applicants.

Staff said the city is working to finalize program guidelines and vendor agreements and is on track to begin the residential recovery and elevation program as early as November, subject to final design and procurement steps. Council approved the resolution, the staffing plan and related authorizations by unanimous vote.

The council vote recorded all present members voting in favor; the motion passed unanimously. Staff will bring program design details to the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee and continue outreach and intake portal design work ahead of program launch.","The council unanimously approved acceptance and appropriation of remaining Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery funds and a staffing plan to implement residential recovery and mitigation programs, with an early residential program launch targeted for November.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425597,"USF St. Petersburg to launch freshman nursing pathway; inaugural cohort admitted fall 2026",1184,552000,1736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02&start=552&end=1736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02/thumbnail_552000.jpg","/articles/6425597/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/USF-St-Petersburg-to-launch-freshman-nursing-pathway-inaugural-cohort-admitted-fall-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425597-bd9c431504ea7c22772a68b33bc9cc58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181396&Signature=KSf~1Fz3fM4E28zrXc0ZRmFJLN3pbqF~-sFAI1w0k9QAqoPHFiu4RQi08fYfVjsm4MWDZFVb6iiYVjYCk~zRtbV8B-z7aEM8aCL~UsnqI7Su57js3DsxU6Ppb9AxOCrjPI4t2V0H3rdebz37uUhGcB7ExH-GYfNNWHVPbEsyF9wGYsHXxeIMKsoG3iMoqN~wC~jVq5HOGjtvqllya7KhZsEWNlhk9WDtvul~WGnNfojSBVk7r1LKFpyqngsTXA6hbQSejSHAQCILbc7XtYe3qdPVpbTOqPSsm8EGXEZqPnkWGADofs8h3XyKcznxVfWFiUPXLEDH0kQ82ajN5xyZOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","University of South Florida St. Petersburg officials told the St. Petersburg City Council on Oct. 2 they will add a freshman nursing pathway and begin recruiting an inaugural cohort that would arrive as freshmen in fall 2026.

The program change is intended to expand local access to nursing degrees and strengthen ties between the campus and nearby clinical partners, including Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Orlando Health and BayCare, university officials said.

Thomas Smith, vice provost for academic affairs at USF St. Petersburg, said the campus is recruiting a new freshman cohort that will \"be here next August\" and move through a four‑year degree track that places students into nursing coursework after two years of general education. \"We will be accepting into the ... there's a new freshman cohort who will be — we're recruiting them right now and they will be here next August starting as freshmen,\" Smith said.

Allison Duffy, associate professor and pathway director for the USF College of Nursing in St. Petersburg, described the change as a transition from the campus's existing accelerated, second‑degree pathway to an upper‑division pathway that starts with first‑time‑in‑college (FTIC) freshmen. \"We're going to be admitting that inaugural cohort next fall. We are going to have a minimum of 60 students starting in that inaugural cohort,\" Duffy said.

Duffy said accelerated second‑degree students will continue to be admitted, and that the program will use on‑campus simulation in the Band Aid Building (under renovation) to prepare students before clinical placements. \"We will also be running simulation in that space ... eventually high fidelity simulation where we put them in scenarios with mannequins who talk, blink,\" she said.

Council members praised the plan and asked about pipelines from other local institutions. Council member Brandy Gabbard asked about coordination with Galen College of Nursing and other local programs; Duffy said USF already works with several regional providers and will counsel applicants toward other local programs when appropriate. \"If they're unable to get accepted into our program, then we do have advisors who work with them and provide them with additional opportunities,\" Duffy said.

Council member Gina Driscoll, who requested the update, noted the campus’s proximity to hospitals and urged continued partnership. \"We have the best opportunities around for people to go to school, walk outside, and see jobs all around them,\" Driscoll said.

The university said it will track outcomes including graduation and NCLEX pass rates and will evaluate the pathway over time. USF also announced recruitment and outreach events: a campus open day for high school students and a marketing campaign; Duffy said the St. Petersburg campus will host high school tours and outreach on Oct. 9.

Plans discussed include: a freshman pipeline beginning fall 2026, nursing coursework for that cohort beginning in 2028, a minimum inaugural cohort size of 60 students, continuation of accelerated second‑degree admissions, and on‑campus simulation training in the Band Aid Building to support clinical readiness. University staff named in the presentation included Sharon Owen (director of strategic initiatives), Deja Snow (project manager) and Dr. Jason Krupp (director, office of student success). The presentation emphasized connecting students to nearby hospitals and local clinical partners with the goal that graduates remain in the community.

The council did not take formal action on the report; the item was an informational update and council members encouraged the university to return with future progress reports.","University of South Florida St. Petersburg told City Council it will add a freshman nursing pathway to produce more locally trained nurses, with an inaugural freshman cohort admitted in fall 2026 and nursing coursework beginning in 2028.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6425583,"Council approves vacation of 20‑foot dead‑end alley at 7925 Fourth Street North",185,1936000,2121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02&start=1936&end=2121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897627-376e2ce1f1d72d5b8cc7520798c22d02/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","/articles/6425583/St-Petersburg/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-approves-vacation-of-20foot-deadend-alley-at-7925-Fourth-Street-North","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425583-d548ec4eb79db349842a4f27b10d91a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181396&Signature=erh-pXE30Jshtr-M3aC69P54f8U0HGR8bbS8wbLHi-eKeNWrqEkQAa276PT6Bm3O~iJ-v2F9F5~07xdUPIX~UVvEWZ-QK7FRBXnHUmbpYryQXYnDBGnvBWPvsXcN7NI3dsdQwI6ELUzQc3AKkGajr7KmyX7fs52eVn~t0B8Li6sKdLjNBvPo~oLfhhdDCJ-jhfEGeJZdDE3GjucPVGKEt0ZiUW8h69WMAfWckXwWfvEl2qrPFyl8BJPhcaDXtb-Vf2n8-AgeMhtyqGFeWsYJjCw9BXErP9yds3RmWSsU5UxuKWOI8Mz~elA5-2v4po28s2kukLIC48Fu20PimqdX~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Oct. 2 to vacate a 20‑foot wide dead‑end alley located at 7925 Fourth Street North.

Scott Boyd of the city's zoning/land use staff described the request and said the applicant owns parcels on both sides of the alley. Staff routing and utility reviews identified the need to dedicate easements over an existing reclaimed water main in the alley and to accommodate facilities owned by Duke Energy, Frontier Communications and TECO. The ordinance requires dedication of those easements and compliance with engineering and water resources memos before recording.

\"The applicant does own both properties on either side of the alley ... Staff received comments from engineering and water resources requiring an easement to be dedicated over the existing reclaimed water main located within the alley,\" Scott Boyd said. He told council that Frontier provided a letter of no objection and that the DRC recommended approval by a 7‑0 vote on Aug. 6, 2025.

Council voted to approve the ordinance; the clerk announced the motion passed unanimously. The ordinance sets conditions for easement dedications and replanting tied to recording of the vacation. No members of the public registered to speak on the item.

An ordinance number was read for the record during the hearing but the citation was not fully specified in the staff reading during the meeting; staff indicated engineering and water resources conditions must be satisfied prior to recording.","The council unanimously approved an ordinance vacating a 20‑foot dead‑end alley at 7925 Fourth Street North, subject to easement dedications for existing utilities and replanting conditions; DRC recommended approval 7‑0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor directs staff to pursue new Science Center facility; city seeks agreement and timeline

Council approves $159.88 million HUD CDBG‑DR grant and staffing plan for storm recovery; residential program could launch in November

USF St. Petersburg to launch freshman nursing pathway; inaugural cohort admitted fall 2026

Council approves vacation of 20‑foot dead‑end alley at 7925 Fourth Street North