The City of St. Petersburg is offering free virtual workshops aimed at helping residents conserve water and reduce expenses. New workshop dates have been scheduled through October 2024. These educational sessions will cover topics such as whole-home water conservation, rain barrels, rain gardens, efficient irrigation, and water-smart landscaping.
May 30, 2024 – The City of St. Petersburg has announced its annual fertilizer ban, effective from June 1 to September 30. This initiative aims to protect the local environment by preventing nutrient runoff during the summer months, which can lead to algae blooms, fish kills, and water quality issues.
The City of St. Petersburg has been selected to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) national cohort, supported by the LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program. The announcement was made on May 29, 2024. St. Petersburg's Office of Sustainability and Resiliency is among 12 cities that will begin certification with the LEED green building rating system.
Ahead of this year's Pride Month, The Greenhouse, in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg's Office of Equity, will host a panel discussion on Wednesday, May 29, from 3-5 p.m. to assist current St. Pete business owners in growing their businesses within the LGBTQ+ community.
May 28, 2024 – While Pinellas County Schools are closed for the summer, the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with the department’s Healthy St. Pete Division, will partner with Summer BreakSpot for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. The program provides free nutritionally balanced meals to children 18 years and younger during summer break.
On May 24, 2024, Mayor Kenneth T. Welch and the City of St. Petersburg celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Mayor's Future Ready Academy, a new 17-week workforce readiness program aimed at connecting young adults aged 18-24 with employment opportunities within the city.
The City of St. Petersburg and its Sister City Takamatsu, Japan, are set to restart their Student Ambassador Program this July after a hiatus of more than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will see three local high school students from St. Petersburg representing the city as goodwill ambassadors in Takamatsu.
On May 21, 2024, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a partnership with Ready for Life, Inc., to support young adults aging out of the foster care system. Nearly $1 million ($946,365) has been allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to initiate Youth Opportunity Grants.
May 22, 2024 – The City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation System has advanced in the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® index rankings, moving from #15 to #11 nationwide.
Certain City facilities and services in St. Petersburg will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024, in observance of Memorial Day. Residential trash and recycling collection regularly scheduled for Monday will be made on Tuesday. Tuesday collections will be made on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday collections remain the same.
In coordination with other mayors across Pinellas County, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch is leading a request to federal appropriators for additional funding and support for environmental resilience programs aimed at raising homes, hardening infrastructure, and developing long-term strategies to mitigate disasters.
Nominations are now open for the City of St. Petersburg's City Beautification Awards, which celebrate excellence in landscaping and building design across the community. Residents, businesses, and community members are encouraged to participate in this celebration of St. Pete's beauty by submitting nominations for properties that exemplify the spirit of the City Beautification Awards.