The Committee for St. Petersburg

What could make St. Petersburg an even better place for the people who live here today, for our children and grandchildren, and a place where people and businesses want to come—and stay?

That is the question behind The Committee for St. Petersburg.

The Committee is a small, independent group of accomplished people with different experiences and perspectives who come together to identify opportunities for St. Petersburg and explore what it would take to make them happen.

What We Do

St. Petersburg is already a successful and desirable city. We ask: Where do we go from here?

What are the city’s particular strengths? What opportunities are we overlooking? What are other cities doing that might work here? And what could St. Petersburg become 10, 20 or 30 years from now?

There is no predetermined agenda.

When an opportunity seems worth exploring, we dig into it. We research what has worked elsewhere, bring in people who know the subject, challenge assumptions, examine the economics and practical obstacles, and determine whether it could work in St. Petersburg.

The objective is not simply to produce reports.

The objective is to identify worthwhile opportunities, determine what it would take to make them happen, and help connect the ideas with the people or organizations that can take them forward.

The Committee

The Committee is deliberately small—approximately 10 people.

Members are chosen for judgment, accomplishment, curiosity, independence and willingness to do the work. They think critically, challenge assumptions and look beyond their own fields and interests.

Members may care deeply about particular issues, but they are not there to represent an organization, constituency or personal agenda. Their responsibility is to consider what is best for St. Petersburg as a whole.

Members meet approximately once a month, usually for about 90 minutes. Between meetings, members may work individually or in smaller groups to explore particular opportunities, do research, meet with knowledgeable people and develop ideas further. The goal is to determine whether an idea can become something actionable—whether by the Committee itself, an existing organization, public or private partners, or others who are in a position to take it forward.

As a group, they bring different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the table. Every person should add something to the conversation that would be missing if they weren’t there.

The Advisory Network

Ten people cannot have all the knowledge or perspectives needed to examine every issue.

The Committee therefore draws upon a broader Advisory Network of people with relevant knowledge, experience and perspectives.

When a subject is being explored, Committee members may form a project team with people from that network who can contribute to the work.

The Committee also makes a deliberate effort to involve younger people whose perspectives are important to decisions about the city’s future, even when their careers and other responsibilities don’t allow them to become regular Committee members.

Participation in the network or on a project team does not imply agreement with the Committee’s eventual conclusions. We want people who will challenge our thinking.

Home Runs Matter

The Committee has its own identity and determines what it explores and the ideas and conclusions that come from its work.

Home Runs Matter provides the Committee’s publishing and communications platform, giving its work a way to reach the broader St. Petersburg community.

Work produced by The Committee for St. Petersburg is clearly identified as the Committee’s work, separate from views and commentary published by Home Runs Matter.