TIDBITS By Peter Roos
ST PETE BEACH
At age 30, Doug Izzo is the new executive director of his hometown Chamber of Commerce, in Englewood, Florida. Locals there might remember him as the manager of the former Rotonda Pizza, the restaurant his family owned when he was younger. He also became active in local politics, and has kept watch on political issues ever since.
Doug majored in communications and minored in political science and business management at Eckerd College. He worked his senior year of college as director of government affairs at the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber, where he created a leadership and government affairs program. He also had to resign as city commissioner of District Two in St. Pete Beach due to the move. A special election is planned for his replacement. Interested residents of District Two should contact the City Clerk for a candidate’s binder.
The Chamber will continue its governmental affairs work on behalf of the businesses and communities they serve. They have hired Suskey Consulting (a governmental affairs and business development firm) to assist with 2021 state legislative priorities and business relief options. Questions? Reach out to Robin@tampabaybeaches.com.
The Saint Hotel and 82 Degrees – A brand new 19-room boutique hotel and quality restaurant is taking shape a block south of Oyster Shucker. Location is critical in real estate. The redevelopers recognized the potential of the site due to its prime sunset location in the Sunset Capital of Florida. “The money shot is from the restaurant deck at sunset,” said the owner, as we were discussing the project.
They were also involved in the rehab of what is now St. Pete Beach Suites a couple blocks to the south. The restaurant, to be called “82 Degrees,” which represents the average annual temperature in St. Pete Beach, should open in late March or early April and plans to serve three meals daily, featuring “Coastal Cuisine,” locally sourced, quality foods to the greatest extent possible.
ST. PETERSBURG
University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science has received a multimillion-dollar donation to help further support one of its campus anchors. A $3 million estate gift was given to the USF Foundation, from the late Anne Von Rosenstiel who passed away in December 2019. Von Rosenstiel and late husband, Werner Von Rosenstiel, have been longtime supporters of the college. The duo had previously established two endowments and the $3 million will be split among them.
Belpointe proposes 15-story, 256-unit development for St. Pete’s EDGE District
A new multifamily building has been proposed for the EDGE District in downtown St. Pete. Belpointe, which invests in opportunity zones, closed on 1.6 acres at 1000 1st Ave. N for $12 million back in October 2020. The site is currently home to two vacant office buildings, two surface parking lots and the former Shirley Ann Hotel, which has been vacant for three years.
TREASURE ISLAND
Mayor Larry Lunn feels he is facing a serious challenge March 9th from Commissioner Tyler Payne, who thinks the mayor’s aggressive plan for the rebirth of the island’s downtown is more than residents want to see. “There have been a series of residents at commission meetings asking for a more moderate plan,” said Payne, but the mayor does not seem to be listening. Deborah Toth is facing opposition for her commission seat too, from two candidates that want to see the old bottlebrush tree remain in the playground. The commission had voted unanimously for its removal, before citizens objections put its future in question.
Treasure Island/Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce
Missy Hahn has retired from the Chamber, and Barry Rubin has assumed the Chamber’s presidency. Barry was previously the president of the Greater Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, which under his leadership merged with the Gulfport Merchants Organization to form the Gulfport Merchant’s Chamber.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Attention Teenage Girls The Oceanography Camp for Girls is a free, three-week summer camp meant for Pinellas County girls exiting eighth grade. Located at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, this camp takes campers into laboratories, outside to field trips and even behind the scenes at SeaWorld. Camp dates June 14-July 1. Applications are due March 31st! www.marine.usf.edu/girlscamp/ Questions? Email ocgoutreach@gmail.com or call 727-851-1883.
Arts Alliance Founder To Surrender Reins
John Collins, founder of the Arts Alliance, will retire as its executive director as of March 31, 2021. Board vice chair, Helen French will serve as interim executive director while a search firm for a new executive director is engaged. Collins will remain as an advisory consultant for six months to help ensure continuity for grant funded programs through Oct. 1. It’s time for new leadership and energy at the Arts Alliance, and it is certainly time for my wife, Mary Ellen, and me to start our next chapter in the City for the Arts,” John says.
Michelle Turman, CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services, will conduct the executive search. To review the full position description and instructions on how to apply visit www.catalystcs.org/about/current-openings/.
The Pinellas Connected Community project, a partnership among the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), city of Clearwater, city of St. Petersburg, PSTA and Forward Pinellas, is one of only 10 agencies selected to receive Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment grant funding. Their $4.6 million grant is for the research and application of smart transportation technologies. Plans are to accelerate deployment of connected vehicle infrastructure along several key corridors, development of a centralized smart cities database for collection, dissemination and use of real time information to improve the safety and operation of the transportation network, improve pedestrian and bicycle safety with enhanced detection systems, and advancements in communications. The project has begun with autonomous vehicles on the St. Petersburg downtown waterfront.
COVID-19 UPDATE Registration process announced for Pinellas County
To expedite the COVID-19 vaccination process, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County created a new, more robust registration system to manage appointments for those 65 and older. Residents can create an account at www.PatientPortalFL.com. With more than 250,000 people over 65 years of age and a limited number of vaccine doses, this process will take time and patience is requested.
PIE’s HIGHLIGHTS
PIE suffered losses in passenger traffic like all airports in the world, however, due to our beautiful, sunny destination and the non-stop flights offered by Allegiant they lost less than most. Although the team at the airport and the aviation community at large have striven to create a safe environment, the air traffic control tower was closed for deep cleaning late in January, when a positive virus case was discovered amongst staff there. The Tampa airport tower covered for them as flights continued to arrive and depart safely. “When more passengers return, we are ready. Our primary runway reopened after resurfacing last fall and our Airport Master Plan was approved with new projects on the horizon. SSP America opened a new restaurant at PIE, local favorite Mazzaro Italian Market,” said airport director Tom Jewsbury.
TAMPA BAY
Saturday, March 20 – Southeastern Guide Dogs St. Petersburg Walkathon 2021
SAVE THE DATE! Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your dogs, and bring your friends’ dogs to our 2021 Walkathon. The Walkathon is Southeastern Guide Dog’s largest fundraiser of the year with a 2021 goal of raising $1 million dollars. Proceeds help breed, raise, train, and match our amazing dogs with people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or the loss of a parent in the military. Please visit www.GuideDogsWalkathon.org prior to event for current schedule and location.
International Passengers Must Test Negative
A new federal policy, which went into effect on Jan. 26, 2021, requires all international passengers headed to the United States to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flights. “Such testing, combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations,” said Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All air passengers must get a test for current infection within the three days before their flight to the United States departs, and provide written documentation of their test results or proof of having recovered from Covid-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or the documentation of recovery before they board. The CDC currently recommends that all air travelers, including those flying within the United States, get tested one to three days before travel, and again three to five days after the trip is complete.
Bus Rapid Transit – The SunRunner
Platforms for Bus Rapid Transit stops are being installed in St. Pete Beach and along the route to and from downtown St. Petersburg in the first step of deployment of the area’s first BRT route.
Meanwhile, a preferred route has been selected for the regional rapid transit line connecting Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties–but not all are on board with the route and the timing. Scott Pringle, a planner with Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority’s (TBARTA) consultant on the project, New York-based WSP USA Inc., presented updated plans to the board for a 41-mile bus line linking Wesley Chapel to the Westshore area in Tampa and on to downtown St. Petersburg and the Gateway area. The goal is to provide regional connectivity between the metros by using dedicated lanes and on-level boarding. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been delays. “As things change in the coming year overall on the TB Next program, we can adjust [the rapid regional transit project’s timeline],” Pringle said, stating the pandemic may delay the project by 10 years.
STATE OF FLORIDA
Florida Small Business Loan Program
Available to qualified businesses that demonstrate adequate historical and/or proposed cash flow coverage and other credit underwriting metrics. The loan proceeds must be used for a business purpose, which includes, but is not limited to: startup costs, working capital, business procurement, franchise fees, equipment, inventory, as well as the purchase, construction renovation or tenant improvements of an eligible place of business that is not for passive real estate investment purposes. Loan amounts range from $250,000 to $5,000,000.