District 3 Weekly Update

the District 3 newsletter

Tax Roadshow

Where I’ll Be

I'll be in each neighborhood this week, and the hot topics are 2027 budget formation, funding for infrastructure, new hurricane permitting procedures, speed calming in Belle Vista, and new community action groups. The weekly visit to your neighborhood or Condo is so very important.

Tuesday

City Manager 10am

Lazarillo Park 3:30-4:00pm

Belle Vista Pavilion 4:15-4:45pm

Lido Park 5:00-5:30pm

Wed 9/9

Presentation by State Representative Linda Chaney on Millage Decisions

Budget Vote 6pm

Commission Meeting 6pm

TBRPC

My next project after the 2027 Budget: The Density Trading Tool

The TBRPC staff member, SARAH VITALE, who worked to develop the transient density pool trading tool for negotiating with developers contacted me. She will help us incorporate a FCF (free cash flow) comparison analysis into the tool — which well may provide the density solution our city has sought for many years. FCF provides the actual, long term cash value of a unit of density (such as a hotel or condo room). By calculating today’s value of this total value we can truly understand the value per unit.

Beach Use Rules

In order to correct my own thinking, I’ve looked into our current Turtle Season rules regarding cabanas. The ordinance is found in the Land Development Code and dates 2007. I copied the section regarding cabanas during turtle season below:

If any turtle nests or nesting activities have been reported within a portion of a beach, any temporary structures, including but not limited to beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas which have the potential for entrapment of marine turtles and which may interfere with the use of the natural beach environment for nesting habitat shall be:

(1)

Removed from the beach nightly; or

(2)

Stored in areas designated by the City of St. Pete Beach staff which are situated to avoid interference with marine turtles; or

(3)

Placed in a manner so as to not obstruct the transit of turtle hatchlings to the water.

Remember to Report Violations!

See Click Fix: https://seeclickfix.com/web_portal/6v8d17UY3Qs36TVkDTzAprtS/report/location

Call Code Enforcement: 727-363-9211

Our New Sign Ordinance is being challenged in federal court. Our new city attorney, Pam Cichon, advises while our case looks strong, our sign ordinance wording may be revised.

Latest Updates for Community Action Groups

Our Ordinances Community Action Group are considering if pre-existing ordinances preclude the need for our new ordinance designed to remove signs from the water.

Also, I’m suggesting we adopt similar shark fishing restrictions as adopted by other cities in Pinellas County.

Two New Community Action Group for Beautification launched last month.

Update to Constituents: Infrastructure

The rain this week demonstrates again how insufficient our street drainage is. Help is on the way. The immediate plan is to fix the current outflow valves in key locations so that proper maintenance can be performed. The should stop the salt water from coming out of the street drains.

However, we expect WSP engineering to have completed analysis and to offer use street flooding solutions to solve the rain water drainage problem at the next meeting.

The next WSP meeting will be in October.

We have asked for a range of solutions providing various levels of service for rain water drainage, (and also various amounts of road elevation to mitigate excessive sea level rise). We will have choices.

Stay Informed – Community Engagement Updates

Thoughts on the next Commission meeting. See the BLOG link above.
Don’t forget to purchase a sewer backflow device for your home! Simple installation, available on Amazon.
Single level homes—URGENT—contact Carolyn Zaleski, our Historic Preservation Board member, to help apply for historic designation.
New outfall check valves are expected to be installed beginning this Fall in numerous locations.
Upcoming Blog: Density Pool trading valuation using Free Cash Flow as the basis for valuation.