Commission approves $16 million emergency loan, awards fire-station construction contract and advances recovery measures

The St. Pete Beach City Commission on Aug. 19 voted unanimously to approve several items the city said are central to post‑storm recovery and capital work.

The commission adopted the final reading of Ordinance 2025‑15, authorizing a loan from the Florida Department of Commerce (principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000) to finance or reimburse operating costs tied to hurricanes Helene and Milton. City staff described the loan as 0% interest. The roll call vote recorded Vice Mayor Marriott, Commissioner Robinson, Commissioner Ryznicki, Commissioner Maldonado and Mayor Petrillo as voting yes and the mayor recessed the meeting briefly so required documents could be executed.

The commission also authorized a construction contract for Fire Station 22 under a construction‑manager‑at‑risk delivery model and voted to award the project to the recommended contractor. The meeting record shows the commission approved the contract; the packet and on‑record presentation named the recommended CMAR but the specific contract amount in the public packet and the clerk’s on‑record number were not consistently presented in the transcript. Chief testimony in the meeting emphasized the need…