The South Barrier Island Cities of St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach are looking ahead to a bright new year. Their respective key executives highlight their financial condition and major issues.
St. Pete Beach
Mayor Maria Lowe was elected last March and new City Manager Wayne Saunders was hired and began in early December. (Pictured below) “We’ve reached the tipping point to move forward and put the city in a good place,” the Mayor observed. “The primary issue is our vital infrastructure needs. Sewers are at the top of the list and under the Court’s consent order, some are completed with others identified and budgeted for completion. We have a full plan in process and will be well ahead of the consent order timeline. Pump Station Number 1 at Boca Ciega has been completed and Pump Station Number 2 at Gulf Boulevard and 55th Avenue is almost finished. An engineering contract was approved at the Commission meeting on December 16 for Pump Station Number 3 in Lazaretto Park. Also budgeted are funds for an Inflow & Infiltration (I & I) study to determine ground water seepage into the system that costs many needed dollars. “On the litigation front that has cost SPB taxpayers over $2 million the last 10 years, the Second Court of Appeals upheld that the City had violated the Sunshine Law, and on the procedural issue on notifications, the City filed a motion for Rehearing and Clarification that was denied.” She added that litigant James Anderson and his attorney Ken Weiss appear willing to compromise in bringing the main lawsuit to a conclusion, in a sense of cooperation and responsibility shared by our city. “We are discussing some options to move forward and I’m very hopeful about the situation,” she said. “We’re all extremely grateful to new City Attorney Andy Dickman whose goal is to keep the city out of court and litigation. I’ve personally learned that it’s always better to handle problems in-house for a decision to benefit the whole city. Once the redevelopment issue has been settled, there are a number of proposals ready to go.”
On the move to the Sheriff’s Office from the former Police Department for public safety, the Mayor emphasized that most residents are very positive: “We’ve never felt an absence of constant patrolling and policing with a seamless changeover that was enveloped by the community.” Saunders added, “Our budget has been substantially affected, and the savings go a long way in helping us address other issues. The pension situation has also been positively affected, although some former police opted to stay in our system Deputies assigned here have embraced the community.”
Saunders met with consultants in mid-December to get cranked up on the possible conversion of City Hall to the new Library, with City Hall staff moving to the former Police Department building. They had formerly determined that City Hall will work fine for the Library, and by February should have a final answer on a City staff move to the Police building.
They have determined that the building is structurally sound, with all non-load bearing walls easy to take down for needed staff space.” The Mayor emphasized, “The real challenge is to be sure the moves are financially prudent for the whole city. Our Library really is a media and arts center – it needs to be a modernized, multifunctional facility as an investment for the next 15 to 30 years. It is truly a Pinellas County Library and we’ve got a consortium going forward that includes South Pasadena and Tierra Verde who also want to make it a viable part of a truly community library for all three cities.” Saunders added, “Our library in Clermont joined with the county and local community college to provide expanded facilities for the entire community. I spent some time with Library Administrator Phyllis Ruscella and was very impressed with the proposed plans.”
The Mayor’s short-term goals are headed by completing necessary improvements in the sewer and storm water systems, and working with the County on the potable water system. ‘We are budgeted to support these efforts, so residents won’t have to suffer any added costs for our very aggressive capital improvements,’ she said. “Also in the works this year are the Blind Pass Road storm water project that has been about five years in the planning, with design funds committed, and Pass-a-Grille repairs that may start this spring.
“Mid-term goals are topped by a new comprehensive plan for redevelopment so residents will know we can and maintain the character of our community while helping our businesses to flourish.” Saunders added, “We have a plan in the works to see how quickly this can be done.” The Mayor continued, “The I & I study addresses the PAG Way situation as the old ceramic pipes are very degraded, with the concrete connections breaking down and allowing water to seep in. This decreases capacity, adding to higher costs “Long-term I’m looking for a safe and healthy home for our residents that also is a quintessential destination location on the Gulf Beaches.”
Saunders added, “My prime goal is to understand the overall fiscal and strategic situation of the city, and getting to know the Commission and our great city staff. We’re looking for the best ways to meet our needs and implement the course that’s been set. There are a lot of positive things in the works and I’m confident we’ll get these goals accomplished.”
Treasure Island
Mayor Bob Minning and City Manager Reid Silverboard have a very positive outlook. (Pictured below) The Mayor said, “Overall we’re very sound financially, with a March ballot issue for increased height and density in planned development zones. These are the west side of Gulf Blvd. between 104th Avenue (Gulf front Park) to 119th Avenue (Marriott Residence Inn) and north of 127th Avenue on both sides of Gulf Blvd., including the current Gators property.”
Silverboard added, “We have a number of redevelopment proposals. Included is the Buccaneer property across from the Gulf Blvd. Shell station that was withdrawn as they needed more height. Another is the current Gators property whose owner also has land across Gulf Blvd. We know others are ready to redevelop existing properties once added height and density are possible.”
On the vital issue of the drawbridge repairs, Silverboard reported that all 16 cylinders were rehabbed and reinstalled with a city cost of about $220,000. There was a flaw in the original design, with that cost to be paid by the contractor. “We’re in the process of fine tuning the software to readjust the span operation so they open and close together,” he explained. “We’ve also done normal major maintenance including concrete repairs and repainting of the drawbridge and other two fixed bridges for about $800,000. Another $150,000 is budgeted for hydraulic maintenance, computer system repairs and lighting issues. Additional maintenance will come later.”
The Mayor noted that current millage is 3.3368, the same as fiscal 2013-14: “One-tenth mill is dedicated to fund major maintenance, another one-tenth for other infrastructure rehab and maintenance, and for the past three years .045 mill to replace the Capri and Palms bridges, and rehab the Central Beach Trail, with pledged utility tax receipts.” Silverboard added, “We provide more services with our millage.”
Related to a possible shift from the current city Police Department to the Sheriff’s Office, Minning observed, “There is very little resident demand. One petition got about 170 names of the 5,500 registered voters. The Commission has said that without a demonstrated groundswell of interest, there is no reason for any change at this time.” Added Silverboard, “Our bottom-line savings would be much less both initially and annually than that in St. Pete Beach. It would take a three-fifths vote by the Commission to disband the Police Dept. and then negotiate with the Sheriff’s Office for safety and security. The issue last came up in 2006, with a big resident response to keep our police.”
Looking ahead, the Mayor said, “We’ve also seen a good revival in our residential areas, with new homes and a lot of rehabbing and expansion projects. We’re working with the City of St. Petersburg to complete a bike trail connection from the Beach to the Bay along the Pinellas Trail. Silverboard summed up, “Our city has immense potential, with some of the best public beaches on the barrier islands. We have an engaged citizenry and a progressive Commission, with all the resources for a continuing bright outlook.”
Madeira Beach
City Manager Shane Crawford & Finance Director Vince Tenaglia are working with Mayor Travis Palladeno and the Commission to keep the momentum going strong. “Madeira Beach is a place you want to be,” Crawford emphasized. “Our tourism season used to peak from mid-February and end with back-to-school in August but now it extends into October. When I came here about three years ago the town had fallen askew with not much done on infrastructure or fees. I hired Vince about three months into my first year and together we worked closely with the Commission. Parking is our life’s blood and we had one of the lowest meter fees on the beaches. These were adjusted and now our overall revenue is up due to increased fees and the end of the recession.
“Our municipal building complex is almost completed, with $10 million in construction costs. It was our first bond issue in many years, with a goal to maintain debt service on the $4.5 million in bonds to $300,000 or less annually. The rest of the funding was in cash from the city. The Recreation Center staff should move in by early January, with the ball fields nearing completion in February. City Hall should be ready to go by early March as well as the new Fire Station. It’s been a challenge but we should have some of the best facilities on the Beaches by the end of the first quarter of 2015. The Archibald Park renovation is complete and the Snack Shack and Beach Services have new concessionaires who both are doing very well.
“We’ve also seen a lot of new development, with the new, larger Publix open on the Tom Stuart Causeway, and the nearby new Marriott by early February. Jim Holton, who owns the former Leverocks site, has several proposals for mixed use development; Bob Lyons has a new 12-unit condo going up just south of Kitty Stuart Park; a new CVS is going up across from Archibald Park on the old Mobil station site; and there’s the possibility of a new flagship hotel in the Johns Pass area.”
On the city’s infrastructure needs, Crawford calls it “a real challenge. Along Gulf Blvd., from 150th to the Johns Pass Bridge, we hope to use County beautification dollars to bury utilities under the sidewalks instead of ‘trenching’ alongside, to save costly easement purchases. If this doesn’t work, the Commission might fund only east to west wires running under the sidewalks, leaving wires running only north and south.”
In terms of storm water repairs, he said, “Al Carrier from Deuel Associates has done a superb job in assisting the city to bring us up to speed on our ‘triage’ list. Our underground infrastructures as well as our roads need attention, as curbing is unusable in many areas. The city got a $1.2 million matching grant from SWFWMD to start the vital repair work.”
Tenaglia noted, “From a financial viability standpoint, our city fares very well. Our millage rate had been 1.89 for some time – one of the lowest in the County. We raised taxes for the first time last year (from a 1.89 millage rate to 1.99). We got mostly praise from residents who see the results of our efforts and that the Commission is responsibly using their tax dollars for good projects.”
Looking ahead, Crawford is very positive. “The Commission is grabbing the issues and no longer ‘kicking the can down the road.’ The staff understands their respective roles and department heads will be rewarded in the new year.”
Mayor Palladeno summed up: “During the last four years we’ve seen a lot of improvements in our City. This includes infrastructure improvements, beautification, older properties being renovated and new houses built on lots vacant for years.This is not the result of one person’s efforts, but was accomplished by the City working together as a whole. The Commission and employees have a ‘can do’ attitude with the ability to get things done efficiently. There’s been a push to think outside the box in bringing more revenue into the City through more grants, promoting our City to create more parking revenue, and attracting new businesses.We are a family-friendly community and have been able to attract young families to move here, buy homes and create a better Madeira Beach for all to enjoy.” PN
[Editor’s Note: Special thanks to St. Pete Beach Mayor Maria Lowe and City Manager Wayne Saunders; Treasure Island Mayor Bob Monning and City Manager Reid Silverboard; and Madeira Beach Mayor Travis Palladeno, City Manager Shane Crawford and Finance Director Vince Tenaglia for their excellent comments.]
[Steve Traiman is President of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman, St. Pete Beach, offering freelance business writing services. He can be reached via email at straiman@mindspring.com.]
Story by Steve Traiman
Aerial Photography by Jim Tizzano