ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete City Council members and the mayor found out late last week that two staff members in the mayor’s office and one in the city council offices tested positive for the coronavirus. That led City Council Chair Ed Montanari to cancel this week’s meeting.

“The following Thursday on April the 8th, we have an extremely light city council agenda,“ Montanari said. “So, it just made sense to just postpone things for a week.”

While counsel is on hold, Montanari said the meeting room and offices will be thoroughly cleaned, but he feels confident in the health safety at City Hall.  

“We’ve put in things like air handlers in our City Council chambers.”, Montanari said. “If you watch our meetings you’ll see plexiglass. You’ll see everyone wearing masks.” The whole thing has Councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders worry, and not just for herself.

“Not only was I concerned for myself, but I was concerned for my other colleagues.“, Figgs-Sanders said. “Because you know a couple of them have had that experience and you don’t wish that experience on anyone else.” Some have suggested returning to virtual council meetings, but that may not be possible.

“Under the governor’s executive orders he allowed municipalities to do virtual meetings,“ Montanari said. “But then that didn’t get extended so we had to go back to face to face meetings.”