ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The Riviera Bay Civic Association welcomed neighbors back to the community after many of them moved, are waiting to get back into their homes, or are moving back in after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

More than a dozen people showed up to the meeting Tuesday night. It’s the same meeting the organization held last year, but the community looks different.

Now residents and leaders say they want things to be different this hurricane season — starting with the No-Wake Zone law that many in the community advocated for.

“I can’t tell you how many times I was out in a neighborhood and people would tell me that one car put us under,” said James Fuchs with the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Fuchs said officers would have to consider road conditions, speed limits, and the impact it may cause. The violation has to be witnessed by an officer. Pictures and videos do not help. Fuchs said violators can receive a $60 fine and three points per violation. It also does not have to be a major storm for police to write a fine.

To help address flooding, St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard said the city is going through the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget right now, and there’s a $700 million cost for the stormwater master plan for projects across the city.

“The administration has worked very hard to try to figure out how to accelerate some of that, but quite frankly there is no funding that will help us to be able to accelerate that at this time,” Gabbard said.

Gabbard said there are proposals to let residents vote in 2026 on a mileage increase toward infrastructure funding. But she said if it passes, they won’t recognize the increase until 2027-2028.

The meeting also took time to emphasize residents having a plan in place for storms, evacuating when told to do so, and knowing your threshold.

“Don’t make it harder by not controlling the things you do have control over,” said Amber Boulding, the emergency management manager for the City of St. Pete.

One resident said she felt hopeful after the meeting.

“We learned a lot of things from last year,” said Toni Michalove. “We prepared somewhat, but I think we’ll prepare better.”

For more information on the details from the meeting, click here.