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Council debates future of in-town CRA; members agree to postpone formal action
Summary
Council members and downtown stakeholders exchanged views on sunsetting the in-town Community Redevelopment Area. Concerns about allocated projects, county interlocal agreements and long-term financing led the itemto be withdrawn for further study and a future committee discussion.
Councilmember Richie Floyd introduced a request to refer discussion of sunsetting the in-town Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) to committee, prompted by a pending state bill and the councils recent extension of the CRA. Public commenters and council members urged caution, noting existing interlocal agreements, allocated projects, and remaining debt servicing tied to CRA funds.
Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, urged waiting to see how redevelopment in the historic gas plant district unfolds before removing a tool used for downtown investments, noting there are still roughly 86 acres of blighted area within the CRA. Several council members raised fiscal concerns about unwinding agreements and the consequences for county participation in CRA revenues after 2032.
Legal staff said the pending state committee substitute would limit issuance of new debt or new projects after Oct. 1 but would still allow a city to terminate its CRA earlier if it chooses. Councilmembers expressed interest in a future committee discussion with clearer legislative context and fiscal analysis; Floyd withdrew the item to await additional information and to reschedule the conversation in committee.
