Mayor Bill Foster continues to draw favorable ratings in the eyes of St. Petersburg voters while City Council's clout is sinking. 

Foster’s approval rating dropped slightly from 55.6 in November to 54.3 in December,  according to St.PetePolls.org.

The local pollster took the pulse of 1,916 voters on Dec. 17. Among its findings, dissatisfaction with the City Council grew from 49.7 percent in November to 55.5 percent in December. 

Residents continue to dislike red light cameras. The poll found that 54 percent of voters don't think the city installing red light cameras was "a good thing."

On Thursday, the council will take up the controversial red light cameras. Foster wants to the group to support his plan to expand the program from 22 to 31 cameras. The council has no power to stop the expansion, but the group could decide to end the contract with the private vendor that supplies them, effectively killing the program.

Voters also weighed in on the proposed hiring ordinance and possible candidates who could challenge Foster in next year’s election.

Those finding:

Do you support the proposed local hiring ordinance being considered by the city? 

Yes: 29 percent

No: 23.7 percent

Unsure: 47.3 percent

In a hypothetical match-up for next years race for Mayor, who would you vote for: Rick Kriseman, Kathleen Ford, Bill Foster or Scott Wagman? 

Rick Kriseman: 9.0 percent

Kathleen Ford: 18.1 percent

Bill Foster: 31.8 percent

Scott Wagman: 5.5 percent

Undecided: 35.6 percent

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Rick Kriseman? 

Favorable: 16 percent

Unfavorable: 15.8 percent

Unsure: 68.2 percent

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Kathleen Ford?

Favorable: 27.1 percent

Unfavorable: 21.4 percent

Unsure: 51.5 percent

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Foster? 

Favorable: 37.2% 

Unfavorable: 31.7% 

Unsure: 31.1% 

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Scott Wagman? 

Favorable: 12.8 percent

Unfavorable: 17 percent

Unsure: 70.2 percent