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County pitches barrier island beautification in Treasure Island
By LEE DIEKEMPER
Article published on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 |
TREASURE ISLAND – Treasure Island would be little more than a beautiful bedroom community if not for the thousands of tourists who visit the city and its famous beach throughout the year.
But the cost of luring tourists and bringing them back was a significant focus of discussion at the April 4 meeting and workshop of the Treasure Island City Commission.
Pinellas County Commissioner Bob Stewart and other county staff members came to the meeting with a PowerPoint presentation of a barrier island beautification project that has been in the works for some seven years.
“Tourism is our No. 1 industry,” Stewart said.
He said the county and the beach communities must keep facilities up-to-date, if not ahead of other beach communities in the state. Otherwise, Stewart said, tourists are likely to vacation and visit other destinations. Fewer tourists could cripple local beach communities and Pinellas County in the long run.
In short, Stewart said, Treasure Island and other communities could pay now to upgrade and beautify, or pay later with potentially less tax income and higher costs for the same beautification projects.
Beautification project highlights include installing streetscape improvements, putting utilities underground and adding mile markers, benches, trash receptacles and traffic mast arms. The project calls for communities to be more pedestrian and bike friendly. Additional crosswalks and bike paths as well as upgrading current crosswalks and bike paths are a goal.
A key element of the project is upgrading the Gulf Boulevard corridor, not just from one community to another, but from Pass-A-Grille to Clearwater Beach. The project would begin with work at various points along Gulf Boulevard, not just in a beach community.
The current cost estimate for the entire Gulf Boulevard corridor project is $131 million. The cost would be split between the beach communities and Pinellas County.
Funds would come from various sources, Stewart said. One source would be an extension of the “Penny for Pinellas” sales tax. Another would be various types of grants.
Not all communities would be stuck with an outrageous bill, Stewart said. Treasure Island, for example, has already improved or is in the process of improving its facilities, which would lessen the city’s potential bill.
The county’s presentation was more informal and informational. The city was not handed a statement of services rendered, which pleased Commissioner Richard Kraus.
“I didn’t want to commit to a project that has yet to be defined,” Kraus said.
Some of the county staff that accompanied Stewart explained to the commissioners that a deadline has yet to be determined. When Mayor Mary Maloof asked about the status of the project if the “Penny For Pinellas” sales tax is not extended, she was told “We will have to regroup.”
Stormwater management fee
At a previous workshop, the commission had a spirited discussion on a proposed fee of $3,200 for a new single family owner. The fee would be used to upgrade drainage systems on single family lots and would be used to help curtail pollutants being dumped into the bay side of the island.
Commissioner Phil Collins, as he did in a previous workshop, suggested that since Treasure Island is the lone community to attempt this, that the effect the measure would have on the environment would be minimal at best and unfair to single family homes on the island.
Commissioner Alan Bildz suggested, as he had at the previous workshop, that implementing the fee was not only good for the environment but would also spur other communities to follow Treasure Island’s lead.
While Kraus backed Bildz and suggested that, unlike Collins, he did feel the proposal could positively impact the environment, the commission decided to consult other beach communities.
City board vacancies
Several vacancies exist on both the Code Enforcement Board and the Planning and Zoning Board. Interested citizens are encouraged to stop by City Hall and fill out an application or contact any of the commissioners or Mayor Maloof.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 12, 2006
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