We’re asking thought leaders, business people and creatives to talk about the upcoming new year and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2024.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has some “good problems” to address in 2024.
Foremost is creating a small, minority and women-owned business pipeline to ensure the city can meet its 30% hiring goal throughout the Historic Gas Plant’s redevelopment. Welch also plans to raise awareness of the generational project’s career opportunities for residents.
“In all of Tampa Bay, I don’t think we have the businesses that are ready to participate to meet that goal,” Welch said. “So, to me, it’s all about capacity building and partnerships.”
However, he is not taking the $6.5 billion project for granted. Welch noted that the city council must still approve multiple agreements this spring.
The mayor compared that process to passing the city’s billion-dollar budget. Welch explained that he and Administrator Rob Gerdes listen to council members’ priorities and would present recommended agreements that incorporate their feedback.
“After we get the approval from council, God willing, we want to focus on getting folks ready to participate in the economic progress that will be coming for the next couple of decades,” Welch added.
He said Pinellas Technical College, St. Petersburg College (SPC) and the Pinellas County Urban League are part of his all-hands-on-deck approach. Tonjua Williams, president of SPC, has discussed creating an “educational ecosystem”; Welch wants to involve high school students.
Residents will see movement on other significant projects in 2024. City officials unveiled proposals from two companies vying to redevelop and operate the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina in July.
That was the last time residents heard an update on an estimated $50 million to $70 million project first discussed in 2017. Welch noted the proposal process began under the previous mayoral administration and encountered well-documented challenges.
“It hasn’t been on the back burner at all,” Welch said. “I’m looking forward to us resolving the marina issue and going to council with a recommendation.”
Welch said he would also focus on his staff’s capacity in the new year. While he called the influx of new growth and redevelopment “a good problem,” he realizes administrators have their hands full.
“We haven’t really increased our personnel count … and so I’m really impressed by the amount of work they’ve done,” Welch added. “At some point, we’ll have to add staff.”
He noted the budget includes $1 million in Gas Plant contingency funding. While Welch did not say that could go towards new hires, he added that the “worst thing you can do is overburden folks with a project that is this important.”
Welch also said City Hall has reached its capacity. He plans to carefully examine the historic building’s burgeoning issues – and potential solutions – in the future.
St. Petersburg continues evolving. Welch, a native, said the focus is now keeping residents rather than attracting them to the city.
Welch said he has “never seen this level of activity and excitement” emanating from St. Petersburg. However, he called that a “double-edged sword.”
“We kind of got what we’ve been asking for the last 30 or 40 years,” Welch said. “But we have to make sure we’re focused on maintaining that accessibility for everybody.”
A new department coming online in 2024 could help achieve that goal. While St. Petersburg’s first chief equity officer resigned after 23 days, Welch is confident in Carl Lavender’s ability to establish a solid foundation.
Lavender, the interim chief equity officer, filled the same role at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. He also served as that organization’s interim co-CEO before retiring in June.
Welch said Lavender would soon hire an education and youth director and an office of community impact director. Those additions will complete the equity office’s team.
“He (Lavender) will be with us as long as he would like to because he’s doing a fantastic job,” Welch said.
He expressed pride in what administrators and council members accomplished in 2023. Welch noted the Gas Plant’s term sheet arrived on schedule, they lowered millage rates, implemented innovative housing solutions and rallied to help residents affected by Hurricane Idalia.
He also credited the thousands of residents who participated in community forums. Welch said St. Petersburg’s stakeholders showed the “power in partnerships.”
“We need to continue to have honest and transparent conversations, whether it’s an issue like equity or education,” he said. “And we really need to have some candid conversations on the impact of sea level rise.”
