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At-a-glance: Key votes and referrals from St. Petersburg council meeting, Feb. 12, 2026
Summary
Council approved the meeting agenda and several referrals, adopted a definition of Islamophobia, authorized a management evaluation RFP and approved an increase to interfund loan authority for affordable housing; most items passed unanimously, with one recusal and one absence noted.
Here are the key formal actions taken at the Feb. 12, 2026 St. Petersburg City Council meeting.
Agenda approval The council approved the meeting agenda by unanimous vote (one member absent).
G1 — Referral: Duke Energy franchise negotiations Councilmember Brandy Gabbard moved to refer the city’s ongoing franchise‑agreement discussions with Duke Energy to the Health, Energy, Resilience and Sustainability Committee for continued oversight and a committee update; the motion passed unanimously.
G2 — Referral: Jordan Park Apartments (public‑safety/housing concerns) Councilmember Zorrie Fig Sanders requested referral to a committee to examine reported violence and resident concerns at Jordan Park Apartments and asked that the St. Petersburg Housing Authority participate. After discussion about committee scheduling, the council referred the item to the Youth & Family Services Committee; the motion passed unanimously.
G3 — Resolution defining Islamophobia After extended public comment and interfaith testimony, the council adopted a resolution defining Islamophobia and directed administration to integrate the language into anti‑discrimination policies; the vote passed unanimously among seated voters (one member absent).
H1 — Interfund loans for affordable housing Council approved a resolution increasing the combined cap on interfund loans from the Economic Stability Fund to the Affordable Housing Fund from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 to support affordable‑housing projects. Councilmember Brandy Gabbard recused herself from the vote on that item; the motion passed among the remaining councilmembers.
H2 — Management evaluation: Billing & Collections RFP Council approved the scope of services and authorized issuance of an RFP for a management evaluation of the Billing and Collections Department; the scope was approved unanimously.
What this means next Most items direct administrative follow-up: referrals will move to committee agendas for review and staff will prepare follow‑up materials; the Islamophobia resolution directs the city attorney and relevant departments to update policies and training. The interfund loan increase provides additional local financing capacity for affordable‑housing projects pending future administrative and project-level decisions.
Votes at a glance — details - Agenda approval: Passed unanimously (one absent). - G1 (referral to HERS): Passed unanimously. - G2 (referral to YFS on Jordan Park): Passed unanimously. - G3 (Islamophobia resolution): Passed unanimously (one absent). - H1 (interfund loan increase): Passed; Councilmember Gabbard recused; one absent. - H2 (Billing & Collections RFP): Passed unanimously.
