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As Pinellas County develops their spending plan for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, they would like to hear from our business community. Below there is a link to a survey looking for input on your unmet needs. Please take a few minutes to respond. Please also see the schedule for local public meetings as another opportunity to provide direct feedback to Pinellas. Business/Economic Hurricane Impact: Please take a minute to complete the survey at the link below by Monday, March 10th. Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HurricaneDisasterImpactandRecoverySurvey The County has scheduled the following public meetings for residents and business owners to provide their input and feedback. South County – April 7th | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Lealman Exchange 5175 45th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33714 Mid County – April 10th | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM City of Dunedin – City Hall 737 Louden Ave, Dunedin, FL 34698 North County – April 24th | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Harbor Hall/White Chapel 1190 Georgia Avenue, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Board of County Commissioners – May 6th 333 Chestnut Street, Palm Room Clearwater, FL 33756 CDBG-DR Action Plan information will be shared and tracked on County CDBG-DR Website: https://pinellas.gov/cdbg-dr/
Last updated on January 30, 2025
Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Overview of Allocation
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) directly awarded Pinellas County funding to support long‐term recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These funds are designated to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income households and communities. Each CDBG-DR activity must address a disaster-related impact (direct or indirect), be a CDBG eligible activity, and meet a CDBG national objective.
$813,783,000
Total Pinellas County CDBG-DR Direct Allocation
CDBG-DR funding supports disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization and mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas, according to HUD. These funds are designated to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income households and communities.
No program allocations have been made at this time.
Pinellas County will announce opportunities for public input on developing an action plan for these funds in the near future. Identifying how to best use the funds and starting programs to distribute them is expected to take several months. Stay tuned for more information. Additional questions, contact Matthew Spoor, Pinellas County Administration, recovery@pinellas.gov, 727-464-4600
I have been provided the dates for the public hearings and wanted to provide you with the information.
Pinellas County CDBG-DR Public Hearings
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
South County – April 7th
Lealman Exchange
Ray Neri Room
5175 45th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33714
Mid County – April 10th
City of Dunedin – City Hall
Commission Chambers
737 Louden Ave
Dunedin, FL 34698
North County – April 24th
Harbor Hall/White Chapel
1190 Georgia Avenue
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Stacy O’Donnell
Executive Aide, Commissioner Dave Eggers
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
sodonnell@pinellas.gov
Office (727) 464-3276
All government correspondence is subject to public record law.
Good day everyone!
Following the Board of County Commissioner’s recent BCC Strategic Work Session on February 6, 2025, the Board requested county administration work with Polco in the preparation of a 2025 version of the National Community Survey (NCS). The survey is being launched today with a random sampling and will conclude in six weeks. Survey results should be available to the Commission by mid-May to serve as input during their summer budget sessions.
THE SURVEY
Pinellas County is collecting resident feedback through the National Community Survey (NCS) to help inform strategic planning and goal setting priorities for the Board of County Commissioners.
Random sampling of 5,000 community households will begin February 27, 2025, and will continue through April 10, 2025. The survey will be open to all residents March 27, 2025, through April 10, 2025.
The following are a few of the most frequently asked questions. More information is available at https://pinellas.gov/national-community-survey.
What is The National Community Survey (NCS)?
Developed over 20 years ago and continually refined, the NCS is a survey of resident opinion that provides robust benchmark comparisons among communities across the nation. It has been used in more than 600 communities across 46 states. Communities using the NCS have reported that the tool improved service delivery, strengthened communications with community stakeholders, and helped leaders identify clear priorities for use in strategic planning and budget setting. It is the only resident survey endorsed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the National League of Cities (NLC).
Why is the National Community Survey broken down into two surveys?
· The Sampled Survey is designed to be as representative as possible of the population of the county. Community households are randomly selected from a comprehensive list of residential addresses to reduce bias and obtain feedback from all areas within the community. The sampled group is mailed a postcard invitation and survey packet, though they may elect to fill out the survey online. Their link is unique to their household and should not be shared. This effort is to gather accurate data from the residents who make up our community today.
· The Open Participation Survey is offered to all residents so each voice in the community can be heard. This survey is hosted online only. It is identical to the Sampled Survey except that it asks if you are a resident of the community and to confirm which area of the community you live in.
How will the survey results be used?
The survey results will be shared with the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners as a tool to assist with future priority and goal discussions. These results will also provide strong benchmarking data that allows for comparison to similar communities across the country.
How long will the survey take to complete?
· It takes ~ 15-16 minutes to complete.
How can I be assured that my feedback will remain anonymous?
· Your responses are confidential and no identifying information will be shared.
· This is a confidential survey conducted by an outside firm, so your identity is completely secure. https://info.polco.us/your-privacy.
What about leading questions or bias with the way questions are worded?
Every effort is made to pose questions as neutrally as possible. The team of survey scientists put a tremendous amount of thought into this when developing the main survey. Because all opinions are welcome, the questions need to be a blend of easy to understand, simple to respond to, and neutral in the way they are asked. There are many methods with which this is accomplished, but one of the more noticeable ones are questions with "if at all" contained in the question. For example: "How much of a priority, if at all, should it be for Pinellas County to focus on the following initiatives?" is a neutral way of presenting the question, making it as easy to answer positively as it is negatively.
Can I share my survey link with another person?
· If you received a postcard invitation and paper survey in the mail, then this survey has a unique link for randomly selected households only and should not be shared.
· We encourage everyone to share the Open Participation survey link with their neighbors.
If you receive the survey, we hope you will take the time to complete it. Thank you.
North Beach is scheduled to reopen on Monday, February 17, effectively restoring access to the entire park. Please note that boat ramp amenities are currently limited due to ongoing hurricane recovery efforts. Visitors should be cautious of boat and vehicle traffic, and be courteous to others.
The following areas are open to visitors:
Visitors should exercise caution, as debris may still be present in some locations.
If you need to cancel an upcoming reservation, please contact us at 727-582-2100, and our team will be happy to assist you.
North Beach remains closed as repair and cleanup efforts continue. Visitors should exercise caution, as debris may still be present in some locations.
Thank you for your patience as we work to fully reopen the park!
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, parking fees at Fort De Soto Park will increase to $6 per vehicle. This is the first adjustment in over 14 years and creates a simple, flat rate across these locations. The boat ramp passenger vehicle fee has also been updated to ensure consistency and fairness. The fee remains lower than many neighboring beach access areas that charge by the hour. Annual and six-month pass rates will remain unchanged, making them a great value for frequent visitors. Thank you for supporting our parks and preserves!
Good Day Everyone!
I know it’s been a while but wanted to get this out to everyone. Attached is a traffic advisory of an intersection has been shut down due to emergency sewer work. Please see the attached Emergency Road Closure notification. At this point, I do not know when it will be fixed. Please use an alternative route.
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber Announces New President and CEO
St. Pete Beach, FL – The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber is thrilled to announce the appointment of Charlie Justice as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Robin Miller who resigned in December.
Scott O’Berry, the Chamber’s 2025 Board Chair, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment. “The board performed an extensive search and is proud to take this next step with Charlie Justice leading the organization,” said O’Berry. “His deep ties to the community and proven leadership make him an excellent choice to guide the Chamber into the future.”
Charlie Justice, a former elected official with deep-rooted connections within the Tampa Bay Beaches community, brings a wealth of experience and a pro-business approach to leadership. Known for his dedication to fostering economic growth and supporting local businesses, Charlie has been a trusted figure in the community for many years.
Experience in the Community: With a longstanding history of public service and community involvement, Charlie's commitment to the Tampa Bay Beaches area is unparalleled. His extensive background in local governance and community development has equipped him with the skills necessary to lead the Chamber towards a brighter future.
Pro-Business Leadership: Charlie’s approach to leadership is firmly rooted in his pro-business philosophy. He has consistently advocated for policies that support business growth and tourism, making him a natural fit for the role of CEO at the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber. His vision includes creating a vibrant and thriving business environment that benefits all members of the community, and he is excited to work with other organizations and chambers in the area to do so.
Crisis Management Expertise: In addition, Charlie is well-versed in crisis management. His hands-on experience dealing with recent storms and other crises has demonstrated his ability to navigate challenging situations with resilience and strategic thinking. This expertise will be invaluable as he leads the chamber out of an unprecedented time for our beach communities.
"I am honored to be entrusted with this role and to continue serving the Tampa Bay Beaches communities in this new capacity. I look forward to working with the team, membership and the board to promote economic growth and strengthen our local business landscape" said Charlie Justice.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is confident that under Charlie’s leadership, the organization will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on the community.
About the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce:
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce promotes travel & tourism, educates businesses & individuals, provides a forum of collaboration to enhance the business environment & promote the quality of life for the communities we serve.
Jan. 3 Update: Fort De Soto Park will continue to re-open in phases. The fort, dog beach and fishing pier will open on Monday, Jan. 6. Other areas that have reopened are the causeway, boat ramp, East Beach and the Area 3 campground. All other areas of the park and campground will remain closed as repair and cleanup efforts continue. If you need to cancel an upcoming reservation, please contact us at 727-582-2100 and a representative will assist you.
Maryanne and Jack made a visit to East Beach Friday, December 27th, 2024. This was our first visit back to East Beach since Hurricanes Helene and Milton did their number on Ft De Soto Park. The Pinellas County Parks Department have and are continuing to do a remarkable job. In the whole time we have been working on this project, we have never seen East Beach look as pristine and beautiful as it is now They are moving fron East Beach to the north to open the rest of the shoreline in the park.
Even with the rest of the park's beaches closed for the time being, East Beach was only about 50% used examining the parking area. We will continue to monitor East Beaches usage as the other beach areas open up.
Tampa Bay Free Beaches mission is moving ahead at warp speed. Stay tuned for future updates.
Good morning and a fabulous Friday to you!!!!!
Substantial Damage Letters
The Building Department and other county department have just finished and rolled out a substantial damage link where residents can visit the website at http://Pinellas.gov/sdsi to search for their home address, click on the dot to view their status, and print a copy of the substantial damage letter. A postal letter will still be mailed out but this link will provide it faster so you can move forward.
Please share this information with your relatives, neighbors and friends. It should prove to be very useful.
Tampa Bay Free BeachesPost Office Box 951Palm Harbor, FL 34682
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