City administrators briefed the City of St. Petersburg City Council on Jan. 23 on the ongoing state of emergency and next steps related to federal disaster recovery funding.
Administrator Gurtis told council the state of emergency remains necessary to allow flexibility for debris collection code enforcement and to allow temporary measures such as permitting RVs in front yards for residents with storm damage. He said the city has used the emergency order for one procurement: an $80,000 contract with Lighthouse Advisors Inc. to assist with Tropicana Field work. “It is an $80,000 contract and we waived some procurement requirements, to put that in place using the state of emergency order,” he said.
HUD CDBG-DR preparation: Gurtis notified council that staff will meet with HUD on Tuesday to discuss requirements for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding the city has been told would be approximately $159,000,000. He warned that HUD’s procurement rules and reporting obligations could create tight timelines and said the administration might bring on a consultant to assist with plan development and procurement if HUD requires it.
Why this matters: The state of emergency authority has been used to allow code-enforcement flexibility (curbside debris, temporary RV placements) and for urgent procurement related to storm recovery. The larger CDBG-DR package could fund long-term recovery and resilience projects, but accessing those funds requires compliance with federal procurement regulations and HUD reporting requirements.
Council questions and follow-up: Council members pressed administration on the expected duration of emergency provisions; Gurtis estimated some debris provisions could be removed within about 30 days but anticipated RV-related flexibility could last longer while homeowners repair properties. Council Member Richie Floyd asked about procurement interactions with insurance; staff said insurance advances are being received and will be factored into the overall funding picture. Staff also said they would coordinate closely with the city attorney’s office and keep council informed if consultant support is needed.
Next steps: Administration to meet with HUD and advise council on procurement windows and any recommended consultant assistance to comply with federal requirements. Any contract or appropriation resulting from HUD guidance will return to council for approval.