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Council issues multiple proclamations and honors community groups
Summary
The council read proclamations for Black Maternal Health Week, Fair Housing Month, Water Conservation Month, National Library Week and recognized Essence of Ebony Pearls honorees and community partners; presenters emphasized health equity, housing access, conservation programs and library services.
During the April meeting the council formally presented proclamations and recognitions:
• Essence of Ebony Pearls (D1): Council Member Deborah Figg Sanders recognized debutantes, scholarship recipients and volunteers tied to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter’s cotillion and presented City Council Distinguished Citizen Awards.
• Black Maternal Health Week (D2): A proclamation designated April 11–17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week in St. Petersburg. Council Member Figg Sanders cited state review committee findings on preventable deaths and invited representatives of the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative to speak.
• Fair Housing Month (D3): Council Member Brandy Gabbard proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, marking the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) and highlighting partnerships including the Pinellas Realtor Foundation’s down payment assistance efforts (presenter cited $12,000,000 of housing stability support).
• Water Conservation Month (D4): Mayor Kenneth T. Welch proclaimed April 2025 Water Conservation Month and introduced public‑works staff to outline conservation programs, rebates, and statistics showing per‑person water use has fallen (presenters cited a decline from about 150 gallons per capita in 1971 to about 75 gallons today).
• National Library Week (D5): The mayor proclaimed April 6–12 National Library Week, introducing new library director Beth Lindsay and citing library system statistics (7 branches, digital and in‑person circulation figures and thousands of program participants).
Council members offered congratulations and thanked volunteers and staff; these items were ceremonial and informational with no formal vote required beyond adoption of proclamations by the mayor and council.
