St. Petersburg originally planned $960 million in stormwater projects over five years. However, Mayor Ken Welch’s push to tackle growing climate threats has increased the total to $1.5 billion.

City council members received their first in-depth briefing on the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program Thursday. Launched after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, SPAR aims to fast-track 16 critical projects to combat neighborhood flooding and protect key infrastructure.

“The goal is simple—get things done now,” said Public Works Director Claude Tankersley. He emphasized that while SPAR is based on current data, it remains flexible to incorporate new insights from the St. Pete Action Plan and a citywide Vulnerability Study.

SPAR accelerates existing projects but allows for adjustments. Some initiatives already approved include:

• Installing deployable flood barriers and waterproof coatings at sewer treatment plants.
• Building an AquaFence flood wall around a downtown sewage lift station.
• Advancing electrical upgrades at the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility.
• Launching a private sewer lateral rehab program to reduce stormwater infiltration.
• Constructing a new pump station along Salt Creek to prevent flooding near Lake Maggiore.

More projects are on the way. “We’ve got new ones coming next week,” Tankersley told the council.

Most of the planned improvements focus on northeast and southeast neighborhoods, with three extending west. Councilmember Richie Floyd pushed for a more balanced approach, stressing that while some areas have greater needs, all deserve investment.

The council praised a planned stormwater project for Bear Creek in west St. Pete, where August 2024 storms caused severe flooding. Meanwhile, Councilmember Brandi Gabbard underscored the importance of neighborhood input, ensuring decisions are based on data rather than public pressure.

Prioritizing projects involved evaluating cost, impact, location, and flood history. However, two major challenges remain—capacity and funding.

“There aren’t enough barricades in Pinellas County for 32 projects in five years,” said Councilmember Mike Harting. Tankersley acknowledged this, noting funds have been allocated to hire project managers and secure contractors.

Funding remains uncertain. Federal reimbursements and grants have stalled, and discussions about a potential property tax referendum are ongoing. City Administrator Rob Gerdes admitted not all projects may be completed but expects federal funding in 2027-2028 to help.

“We’re exploring all options,” he said. “But it’s a huge financial challenge.”

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(Image credit: Roberta RamaSanto)

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