Opinion: St. Pete residents should vote ‘Yes’ to strengthen the Port of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg has a rule that protects our waterfront. If the metropolis wants to lease public waterfront land for longer than a immediate time frame, voters mediate by capacity of public referendum. That rule is price keeping, and a “yes” vote on Charter Modification #2 does not weaken it.

Right here is what it changes. This day, the metropolis can lease Port of St. Petersburg land to a private tenant for up to 10 years with City Council approval. Anything longer requires a citywide referendum.

Modification #2 would elevate that limit to 25 years, the equivalent limit neighboring Albert Whitted Airport has had since 2004, when voters raised it from 5 years. Giving the Port the equivalent terms as its neighbor is gleaming.

Right here is what it does not change. The ballotlanguage says the amendment “would not change the authorised say of the Port.” It does not approve residential construction at the attach of abode, and it does not approve any particular mission.

It changes one number, the maximum lease dimension. Every lease would soundless need its have approve by metropolis administration and City Council. The amendment does not hand somebody a blank take a look at.

The 10-yr limit is a staunch venture because serious funding doesn’t work on a immediate clock. An organization constructing a facility, or a lender financing one, wants years to recover the worth. A decade is often too immediate, and the metropolis risks losing glorious projects sooner than they attain the negotiating desk.

That issues for projects already on the horizon. The metropolis has talked about increasing the Maritime and Protection Technology Hub on what is now a floor automobile parking self-discipline at the Port, and a longer lease time frame would sort that style of mission imaginable.

Matching the airport’s 25-yr construction would also fulfill federal funding requirements, which helps carry in originate air greenbacks and lengthy-time frame financing so St. Petersburg taxpayers fabricate not ought to indulge in all the things by myself.

The Hub is the style of labor our waterfront would possibly perchance well perchance additionally fair soundless enhance. It draws maritime research, technology jobs and resilience skills to our metropolis. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, knowledge about coastal resilience will repay for the whole community. Companies that launch right here would possibly perchance well perchance additionally additionally grow right here, reasonably than leave for a metropolis that would possibly perchance well provide longer terms.

Some residents will ask whether a longer lease manner much less accountability. It be an very fair correct quiz. A “yes” vote does mean voters would not accumulate a explain verbalize on Port leases between 10 and 25 years. However these leases would not be rubber-stamped. Below the City Charter, lengthy-time frame waterfront leases need the votes of no not up to six of the eight City Council participants, not a straightforward majority, and voters withhold the vitality to indulge in these officials to myth. The 10-yr limit became as soon as say for a special generation and now works against the metropolis’s have targets.

Right here’s also a modest request. A 50-yr time frame became as soon as floated early on, nonetheless the council in truth helpful toward 25 years to align with the airport and withhold the ask straightforward for voters. St. Petersburg voters have licensed restricted waterfront lease extensions sooner than. The Sailing Middle’s lengthy-time frame lease handed with 84 percent, because residents saw that thoughtful, bounded extensions attend the public.

A extra resilient Port manner a stronger native financial system, extra maritime research and a higher-ready waterfront.

St. Pete Rising recommends balloting ‘Yes’ on the City of St. Petersburg’s Charter Modification #2 to authorize a 25-yr lease limitation for the Port of St. Petersburg.

For added knowledge on the November 3, 2026 General Election, take a look at with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections web verbalize online.

The ballotlanguage of the referendum is as follows:

City of St. Petersburg
No. 2 Charter Modification

Authorizing a 25-yr Lease Limitation for the Port of St. Petersburg

The City Charter currently limits leases at the Port of St. Petersburg to 10 years without approval by citywide referendum. Shall the Charter be amended to sort higher that limitation to 25 years? That amendment would sort the Port per adjoining Albert Whitted Airport and provide the City with extra flexibility to enter into agreements with private entities for redevelopment of Port facilities. That amendment would not change the authorised say of the Port.

Yes
No