The City of St. Petersburg could be next on the growing list of major Florida cities adopting domestic partnership registries. City Councilman Steve Kornell introduced the idea at the April 5 City Council meeting, setting things in motion to let city residents in unmarried relationships to have some protections concerning medical and end-of-life issues.
With a unanimous vote, the council voted to pass the language of the ordinance on to city staff, which will present it at a meeting later in the month. The ordinance is similar to the one implemented in Orlando in January and the one approved by the Tampa City Council earlier on April 5.
â┚¬Å”It's a banner day for equality,â┚¬Â said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida said in a Facebook post.
Once the city attorney's office returns to the chamber with the approved language, the council must vote again on the first reading. If it clears a second reading, it will be on its way to becoming law in St. Petersburg.
Kornell told Watermark earlier this year that he was hopeful that a DPR would come to St. Petersburg for a number of reasonsâ┚¬â€Âespecially to boost the city's attraction to business.
â┚¬Å”It says, â┚¬ËœCome here, your employees will be welcome,'â┚¬Â Kornell said of a domestic partnership registry.
