ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mayors from St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Clearwater on Tuesday attended the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club's State of the Bay. The paid-entry event was moderated, asking the mayors questions about topics making recent headlines, and their plans for 2023.
The conversation started lighthearted as the mayors were asked about their plans to keep up with the craze over pickleball.
"We are working on it," St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said. "It is not necessarily a priority with everything else that we're dealing with."
In Clearwater, pickleball courts created a recent controversy. That's because the pickleball courts took the place of a tennis court.
"As we re-do parks, obviously we're putting in pickleball courts," Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard said. "Over time, all of the cities will get an adequate supply."
In Tampa, there are dozens of pickleball courts.
"Clearly the number one priority in the city of Tampa," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joked. "We held a press conference to announce that we have added 49 pickleball courts throughout the city. Which I thought would be quite a joyous occasion... every call that I got was, 'well they're not in my neighborhood.'"
Moving into more serious matters, Welch was asked about plans for the historic Gas Plant District. The prime real estate includes Tropicana Field and the areas surrounding it.
"Well, we've got four great proposals," Welch said. "There's an open house tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the Coliseum where all four groups can present their plans and the public can weigh in."
A community presentation will be made at the Coliseum where members of the public can ask developers questions in person.
As the future home of the Tampa Bay Rays remains in limbo, Castor was asked if she'd like the city of Tampa to become the location for the major league team's new stadium.
"I clearly would rather have that location in Tampa," Castor said. "I think Mayor Welch is up to bat first with the offer that's on the table right now."
As rent and real estate prices continue to rise in Tampa Bay, the topic of affordable housing was inevitable.
"We want to be innovative, and use private and public-private partnerships," Welch said. "We want to use resources we have like our CRA, federal funding, every resource we have to fill that gap."
Welch is prioritizing equity and affordable housing options in his plans for the historic Gas Plant District.
"We also need to get over the 'D' issue, which is density," Hibbard said. "And allow some additional density in certain areas so we can give incentives to developers."
For the city of Tampa, Castor set a goal to create 10,000 affordable housing units by 2027. She said more than 60 percent of that goal has been met.
"The immediacy of the issue-- individuals having difficulty paying their rent or their mortgage, we have programs available that allow funds to be utilized," Castor said. "We actually have a phone bank of individuals who are taking these calls and we are providing that relief to those individuals that need it."
People living within the City of Tampa can call 813-307-5555 for assistance on a variety of housing-related questions or concerns, including:
- What resources are available to assist with security deposits?
- What resources are available to assist with mortgage payments?
- Who can I contact if I am having problems with my landlord?
- What resources are available to assist with rental increases within the City of Tampa?
City of Tampa Call Center Operators will be available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Castor was also asked about the search for a new police chief following Mary O'Connor's resignation.
Castor stood behind her decision in hiring O'Connor. And her decision to ask for her resignation. As the hiring process begins again, Castor explains how they hired the first time, through a firm.
"We did a process that was very efficient and in my view very effective," she said. "But you always look at what you could have done differently and how you can improve next time around..."