St. Pete, Ken Welch score 3 legislative wins, with a little help from friends

Image via AP.

The city of St. Petersburg is celebrating a trio of victories this Legislative Session on priorities leaders pushed, including provisions limiting wake on flooded streets, increasing affordable housing opportunities and improving building safety during storms.

Victories include passage of a bill originally sponsored by state Sen. Nick DiCeglie (SB 350) and state Rep. Lindsay Cross (HB 241) that was ultimately passed through a larger transportation package from DiCeglie and state Rep. Fiona McFarland (SB 462). That language creates a traffic violation for causing wake on flooded streets. The legislation is now awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

Another measure would establish a “Yes In God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) policy, which allows churches to build affordable housing on properties they own regardless of zoning. On that push, Mayor Ken Welch’s administration worked with Cross.

Welch’s administration also partnered with DiCeglie and Cross to successfully pass a measure (SB 180) to improve safety related to building cranes, which often tower hundreds of feet into the air for construction projects. It establishes a set of best practices for contractors operating cranes ahead of, and during, storms.

The legislation came after a crane in downtown St. Pete toppled during Hurricane Milton in October, causing significant damage to a nearby historic building.

“The passage of these state legislative priorities underscores our focus on two of St. Petersburg’s Pillars for Progress: Neighborhood Health & Safety and Housing Opportunities for All,” Welch said. “By listening to our residents and working in coordination with our state partners, these smart, forward-looking policies will ensure that St. Petersburg and Florida, as a whole, will be a safer, more affordable place to live.”

Welch offered his thanks to the entire Pinellas County legislative delegation, which includes DiCeglie, a Republican, and Cross, a Democrat. Referring to the approved legislation, Welch said “we eagerly await seeing their impact in our community.”

The Southern Group (TSG) is the city’s contracted lobbyist and also helped secure victories on the city’s legislative priorities.

“The Southern Group is honored to represent the city of St. Petersburg in Tallahassee” TSG Partner Laura Boehmer said. “These legislative wins are a testament to how thoughtful local leadership — combined with strong relationships across the Legislature and Governor’s Office — can drive smart, effective policy. We’re especially grateful to the delegation for championing the city’s priorities and helping deliver meaningful results for residents.”

Welch’s administration said excessive vehicle wake is a recurring source of property loss and community disruption, particularly following hurricanes and significant rain events.

City Council member Brandi Gabbard had originally spearheaded efforts to establish statewide legislation to improve enforcement. In addition to DiCeglie and Cross, Gabbard coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, St. Pete Police, St. Pete Fire Rescue and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office to craft the new enforcement tool.

“This legislation will be incredibly helpful to not only protecting resident homes and businesses but will also give our law enforcement the tools they need to keep our city safe. As a coastal community, we have seen an increase in roadway flooding from rain events, tidal surge, and sunny day flooding,” Gabbard said.

“This resident-led initiative shows that when concerned individuals work together in a bipartisan way to address our greatest challenges, solutions are possible. While this won’t stop flooding, it will create peace of mind and the assurance that resident safety is our top priority.”

The YIGBY measure was a main focus for Welch. It was wrapped into a sweeping legislative package updating the Live Local Act. A play on NIMBY — not in my backyard — YIGBY waives zoning change requirements for religious institutions for affordable housing construction.

Welch first called for legislation in an open letter last April published in The Weekly Challenger, a St. Pete-based local publication that emphasizes issues impacting the Black community, Welch wrote that he would be “asking for the consideration of legislation to empower faith communities to develop affordable housing on their own property.”

He further pledged to advocate for the federal Yes in God’s Backyard Act sponsored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in Congress.

The crane safety legislation was another Welch priority, a response to the crane collapse in downtown. Welch directed his staff to work with local lawmakers to craft a framework to ensure it doesn’t happen again. The city, in a press release touting its legislative accomplishments, noted that this year’s legislation is merely a first step, but that city leaders would continue working with lawmakers to achieve stronger language in the law moving forward.

Other lawmakers that worked with the city on priority legislation include state Sen. Darryl Rouson and state Reps. Linda Chaney and Michele Rayner.