As uh you can see our chairman uh he let us know last meeting that he will be out of townies in Europe I believe and uh so I am standing in uh if everyone will join me in the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Before we uh go to roll call, we'll introduce our newest member uh Bill Thompson. Um he's been a residence for 20 a resident for 20 years and been on several different committees uh with for
the city and uh we're lucky to have him. I Bill, if there's anything you would like to add. No, you hit it out of the park. Thank you. That's right. Just happy to be here and we'll do whatever I can to to help with them. So, thank you for uh thank you for
serving. We appreciate you. All right. Uh roll call, please. Member Thompson here. Member Kurszman here. Member Looney here. Vice Chair Stevens here. We do have a quorum. Great. All right, we'll move on down to uh approval
of the agenda. Does anybody have anything they would like to add or discuss about the agenda? I'd like to add a couple of items. Okay. Um and and and the reason they're being
added and not earlier is just because they are timely. Um, one is there's been recent uh, Senate activity and uh, and I just heard things at the planning board meeting this week and and so um, my
request if possible not to put anybody on the spot would be just to discuss any of the new Senate bills or laws that are being discussed and how they might affect the beach or the beach ordinance or or things of that nature because it is things that are happening right now
and uh, it could be relevant to The the other item is um uh beach closures and the information about that. We had a meeting a couple of times ago about putting the status of our beach health on the website or public sources
of the beach health and there were some beaches closed Indian rocks to clear water and just a discussion about where the information about our beaches and then when the information about when beaches are good uh and healthy again are are posted. So something about the
beach health process uh and posting would be the other item. Okay. Any comments on member Kurszman? My only question would be on
Senate bills. um though interesting they're not I don't think they're law yet and I just we can have a discussion but we don't know what we don't know and I'm not up to speed with them and if we were going to have discussion I'd like to if we could get a briefing on them
and I don't know I could do that that's what we're talking today or at a future date either way is the status is what I'm asking for could you give us a quick status of at least what's being discussed and I hope we don't you know get caught in kind a loop of what could
be but just hey what are they discussing would that be okay that would be ideal okay and then beach closure so we'll add that as G and H G for Senate bills H for beach closure
um anybody else I would for Hi, if everyone's okay, just a quick update on the beach ordinance. I know that there is a community meeting, but
just to make sure we're all on the same page that there's another community meeting to discuss that, but just a quick update on that. Okay, everyone good with the agenda?
All right, we'll move next to audience comments. I just saw one card, so I'm assuming we have at least one comment. Um, Kathleen Goyen at your Please come up to the podium. State your
name and your address for the record. And uh, thank you. Please, you have three minutes. Thank you. Kathleen, 106 Fth Avenue, Pasigril Beach. So, I'm all the way down in in the village at the south end. Um, and my question or comment is whether it's this
meeting or a next meeting is the status of the seaw wall right now. It's the orange cloth that's being wind blown down and the overpasses. Our overpasses are at 4th Avenue and 6th Avenue. Right now, they're simply um paths dug into
the sand with the um I don't know what you call them, the sticks. So what is the plan? What is the milestones? Is there are there actions um that we can follow just so we I have a basic understanding of what to expect.
Okay. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. I echo, can we put on for next meeting? I know that there was an RFP for walkovers and I believe fourth and six or down there. There was there's an RFP that went out and I thought it was at the commission meeting to get approved, but I've been
out of town. But if you know what's the status of the RFP of the walkovers, where are they're going as well as um the where the status of rebuilding the wall that got knocked down from the storm. Right. Okay. Any other comments?
I have one for lighting, but that's down the agenda a bit. Okay. All right. With a comment on a specific item. We will Okay. Okay.
Okay. We'll move to action items. Uh approval of both the uh February 26 regular meeting as well as the March 20th workshop meeting. And I believe we can do these both at the same
time. Is there any comments about the February 26 U minute minute meetings? Any comments on the March 20th, 2025 workshop meeting minutes? I didn't recall seeing those in the packet. Maybe I somehow missed them. I I received
both. Did you get both? I just I'm sorry that I missed it. Are you okay to proceed? I'm okay to proceed. I just won't vote on that. Well, you have to vote. So, maybe we could print them out. Can someone print them out?
Yeah, I Okay, I'm sorry. I can give They're on the iPad. Yeah, I can just read it. They're on the iPad in front of you. Okay, we can come back to the item if you want and give him time to read it. Yeah, sorry. I apologize. I Well, I I take it back. I Never mind. I'll need
to I do need to read it. I'm sorry. Okay. Why don't we push the the workshop, the one you missed to the next meeting? Is that okay? And let's uh May I have a motion for the February 26 regular meeting minutes approval?
I make a motion to approve. I'll second it. Okay. Roll call. Member Kurszman. Yes. Member Looney. Yes. Member Thompson. Abstain. Vice Chair Stevens? Yes. Motion carries. Great.
And then for the next meeting just add the uh for this meeting and that next. Okay. The next is election of committee officers for this uh the next cycle. Um so we should have a quick discussion
here and chair Rothenberger is not here. He did communicate through the clerk that um he is not interested or not able to continue as chair uh for this next session and he would be okay for us to
proceed without him. That said um we can choose to wait and do it but he he encouraged us to decide amongst the four of us and if we can't come to a conclusion we can wait. Um, does everyone feel comfortable in proceeding
without him? Sure. Okay. Um, I signed up for vice chair. I'm willing to step up as chair. Um, if that's okay. Now, the hard part. We need
someone to raise their hand and become vice chair. Don't all come at once. Well, as the new guy, I'm going to gracefully bow out. Okay. Like to get a few more meetings under my belts before I leave one potentially. I
guess that I guess that leaves me as vice chair. You're the last to step back. That's fine. That was pretty easy. That's fine. I uh I'm fine with being vice chair. I I I try to That's fine. Okay. I volunteer as vice chair. Okay. So I um can we do these together or they
have to be separate? You can do them together if you'd like. Okay, great. So I request a motion to appoint um myself and John as chair and vice chair respectively. You need to someone needs to move it. I
make a motion to appoint uh John as uh John Stevens. Two Johns here. We're going to have John and John as president and vice president. Yeah. To approve um John Stevens as president. Chair. Chair, excuse me. And John
Kersman as vice chair. I have a second. I second that motion. Roll call, please. Member Looney. Yes. Member Thompson? Yes. Member Kurszman? Yes. Chair Stevens? Yes. Motion carries. Yep. In fact, I'm looking at the minutes here on the action items. It actually says
the current vice chair is John Cursman. That was incorrect, but Oh, it was it was pre it was pre pre-ordained. Yes, there you go. All right, we will move on to uh item four 4 A and this is an
update regarding the emergency beach renourishment dune work. And I believe we have Zach Westfall. Zack Westfall from Penllis County to update us on some work at UPM Beach. Good morning. Thank you. Can you hear
me? Yes. Yes. Yes. Hi, Zach. How you doing? Awesome. Fantastic. Good morning. Thanks for letting me uh come speak with you all today. I appreciate it. Um my name is Zach Westfall with Pelis County Coastal Management. Um you may or may not have heard talked or or heard my name before, but I do work with John
Bishop. um at the county doing the coast management projects like pass a grill uh reertion project and the dune project we're going to talk about now. So uh if you haven't met me, it's a pleasure. Um I look forward to getting this dune planted for you. So I'm going to give
you a little status update as uh IO requested I give you a little talk to you. So I was happy to oblige. So uh good morning everybody. Um, so what we have now is the status is we uh, as you know that the dune that got washed away during Colleen was already planted. Uh,
but it got it's gone now unfortunately. So we did build the next dune with all of the overwash sand that was in the street. So, we did not have a plan to plant again, but we decided to go ahead and plant it now because it's, you know, sand is out there and then we don't want it blowing all over the place and we want to stabilize the dune while it's
out there as well cuz it's a nice big beautiful dune and it's going to be a great habitat for a lot of, you know, um, birds and bees and stuff like that, too. So, we uh we want to get it so it's not just a barren dune. So, what we were thinking about doing is get a getting a scope of work. In fact, we're not thinking about it. We have it done. We
have a scope of work that we're being uh that we have already vetted. So, we're just trying to make sure we have the time to uh go out to bid and get that done. We are working with a few other projects around the county involving dunes and beach beach projects. So, we're working with that as well. So, please bear with us. Uh a lot of stuff
to do for just me and me and another person. So, um we're working as fast as we can. And right now, we have a great scope of work. It's going to be essentially I was just out there the other the other week with a group trying to survey the amount of of area we need
going to need to um plant. So I have that survey done. I want to include that with the scope. Um the scope of work is going to be great. It has a lot of different varieties of um of of doing plants and native Florida species. So instead of just having about four plants we had last time, we're going to have
upwards of about 10 to 11 uh depending on whether or not a nursery can carry those plants uh at that time. Um but right now the only issue we have is uh we do not have a permit to do the planting. As some of you may know um there is required permits by the state
to do any sort of beach work and we are not you know we are not uh um exempt from that. So we still have to get permits ourselves. Uh we were given the option of getting a CCCL permit or going through a renewal of our joint coastal permit which is the permit that we use
to place sand on the beach. We can also use that to uh plant dunes um and build dunes with that permit as well. So we are going to be operating under that but it is not uh officially approved yet. So we're just waiting on that. That shouldn't take too much more time. Once
we have that, um, then I will talk with John and we can see what time we can, uh, go out there and start doing the the planting project and we may try to do it with with other projects that we have in the area. So, we may want to to save some money, try to bundle it all as one big one or if we want to just go move
forward with just this one. I'll have to talk with my my boss, Super John Bishop about that. But that's kind of the the rundown. Um, yeah. So, if you have any questions, let me know. Can you hear us? Yep. Zack, I I think he can hear us. Can you hear us? Jack, can
you hear me? Yeah, I might have missed it, but can you give us a sense of where on the beach we're talking talking about? Is it past a grill or is it It's pass. Uh, it's past a grill. It's going to be past a grill cuz that's where we had the
we had built we're only planting places where we actually built the dune. So, with that overwatch stand. So, we built the dune from 22nd, I'm sorry, uh, uh, 1st Avenue, I think, to around 16th Avenue is where we were placing sand. So, uh, all the overwash sand that was
in the street, we put back on the beach. And that's what we want to that's what we intend on planting what was what we had placed out there the county because I know there was a large project in front of Starlight Tower at Up I think after
Idelia with some good plings and Tampa Baywatch may have come out might have come out excuse me and planted right there at the walk over in front of Paradise Grill and I think that's all gone now. So is that on your radar as well? No.
Uh, so right now we're only going to be planting uh where we're building a deal. So if uh there is places you'd like to plant, I do we do have a CEO giveaway every year, which I'm starting up very soon. Uh that is a SEO giveaway that we
do across the entire county. The unfortunate part is I've had a lot of well actually pretty fortunate is I've had a lot of applications and my budget is about $5,000. So, um, if I can give some, but I can't give enough to fill a
whole beach. Um, if that's something that would, you know, the city or they would like to go forward move forward with, then that's something that you guys would have to um discuss. Is um is there any headway on the
progress of getting Army Corps to be willing to do the beach nourishment in the rest of our beach? Are they still holding, you know, a sort of ransom, waiting for one or two uh stragglers to agree to their conditions to move
forward? That's a good question. Yeah, we we've we are still in talks with them, especially with, you know, changes uh with administration and those sorts of things, but uh so far the county, as we're planning right now, we are
planning for the reef projects to be a county project. uh pending of course you know funding and money from um the board. So one thing is interesting I probably should give you this information is when I went to the I went to the Treasure Island meeting that was held when they were presenting
uh uh you know to people about how they were going to do beachmen at Treasure Island uh and the conditions of you know people having to relinquish their rights or what have you. Um and the core army corps engineer people were there and I I
asked them back when they were doing the formal reading of the announcement uh everybody sort of left the room because there were no no objectors. Uh, and I got to talk to the Army Corps people and I said specifically, what is the language, you know, in what is the law
that's making you believe you need to require that people to give up their rights for the future rather than the rights you need currently? Um, and was there a law change? Because, you know, why didn't you need this previously? and
and and they said and they showed me it and and I said, "Well, I'm reading this and I'm not a lawyer, but I'm reading this and I don't really see it saying that." And they said, "Well, actually, I we understand what you're saying. We just need a director to tell us that."
And no one's in that position right now. So, now that there's a new new president, we we just need a a new director, and we're waiting for the new director to tell us. So, I'm just saying, you know, let's look for that new director to get Britain to the Army
Corps and say, hey, uh, can you read the section? Because maybe that law really doesn't say what they're saying it means because it didn't used to mean that. And now all of a sudden it means they were literally saying, "We don't just want
you to to give away the rights to the land because we're about to nourish it. we are saying we might need it in the future and because we might need it in the future we want you to give up land we're not even needing now and that's I
think the area that some some people are objecting to and okay yeah maybe they are and so if we can get rid of that sticking point maybe we can get people to agree and get nourishment for the entire beach that's being held up
because people are saying well they're arguing about something that isn't even happening Um, it's just a shame to hold up everything on something that's not even really an issue at the time. So, at least that's my interpretation. It's uh, yeah, it's it's been a 13-year
stalemate, unfortunately, with with the core. So, you know, we've we're hoping for some wiggle room, but, you know, it's uh, it is what it is. They have lawyers. They have to listen to them. They got to talk to them. But the the the good news is that you know
um word of p word of 2024 passed that's the water resources development act so that's the ones that can you know give the authorization to build these projects and in that guidance uh in in that in that uh that act they said that the core should operate as they previously did and fill these beaches
however they are still waiting for a guidance document to implement word so it it's it's not going to But, you know, the time frames are just not there. It's going to take them too long to do this. So, we we still the county understands
the emergency out there. We are trying to do what we can on our end because we we just can't wait. You guys know that we just can't wait. So, we're seeing what we can do. And when you say a 13-year stomach, are you saying that the Army Corps has not funded uh beach nourishment in the last 13 years at St.
Pete Beach? But it's no, they they they gave us warning signs about this coming in for as far as real estate goes. Uh before the 2018 project in San Key, you know, they were saying that, you know, because of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, all
of these easement questions came up because of that. They did a full dive back then and realized that projects all over the country were out of compliance. and we just so happened to be one of the first ones that they analyzed and saw, wow, there's uh real estate issues
according to them that they can't construct this beach anymore. So, that that was part of it, but it's been uh kind of a you know a a debate ever since the beginning of the 20 or beginning of the 2018 San Key project. Right. Okay.
All right. Thank you. Good question, John. If I if I could. Yeah, Zach, one last thing and I'll I'll I'll shut up. Um, has has the county determined that along St. Pete Beach from Pastor Grill Point all the way to the mouth of Blind
Pass that the only area that needs renourishment as a result of Elaine Milton is south of 22nd? That's within our authorized project. uh if that's kind of what has been
historically been needing sand. Uh we do, you know, take surveys out there and we do monitoring out there, but historically that was the project fill area. Uh and north of there, it does get pretty wide in the middle of the island. But uh yeah, that's those are our field
templates. That's what's in our permit. That's what we're allowed to fill. So, are you familiar with the renourishment that was done what, two years ago now in front of Starlight Tower just south of the Mouth of Wine Pass?
Was that the the Dune project? Yes. Yeah, that was the county project. It was a county project and it was Yeah, that was the Dune. Yeah. And it's probably like half half the size it was. Yeah, that area it was that privately
funded by the building or was that that was identified by our engineers as a place that needed uh a dune after Adalia. So that's the dune that was built over there. Um unfortunately, you know, because of the space of the area
out there, it's really hard to build a dune in that area. Um we're still in, you know, discussions with our engineer about what is constructable, but um you know, if if if time comes that we we fill that beach, uh a dune is part of the permit, but we'll have to see where
we can actually put it and fill it and make sure it stays put and not eroded immediately after we place it. Right. Fair enough. And for and for that one, isn't there also a drain issue that has to be addressed to if you really want to keep the dune there?
Uh yes. And and then also where where for funding is your funding coming from the the bed tax and is there people look I mean I don't know if that's part of what you're looking at but the bed tax issues and and if that's going now to stadiums or other things is that take away from the beach nourishment. Um
sure. Okay. Yeah. Um yeah the so the this this project if approved by the board and everything like that it would be uh a tourist development tax uh which is the bed tax. Yes. That's part of it. And then uh there's also we do go out for what's called local government
funding requests from the state um and they can cost share on our projects with us to try to help local communities protect themselves just like what we're doing over here. Um there's also special appropriations but as we know the budget the state budget is still has been back
and forth quite a few quite a few times now. I think it's you know it's miday it's o almost over mid May and we still don't have a state budget yet. So, uh, there could be appropriations in there, too, but we we won't know until that budget is passed by the state to see if
there's any money for, um, to help supplement that. And to your point, something just occurred to me. If we can find local funding for plant material for dune stabilization and get it to the county,
can the county install it? We've done just, you know, that's a question above my head. I don't know what to tell you. Um, if you if you go with your own grant, you you guys could find volunteer volunteers to plan it for you, too. It's uh you know it's not a big operation. I'll tell you right now I
I order from nurseries down in South Florida. Huh? We can Can we do that work under the county's permit? So I was involved so I was involved last year working with Ayako um through the grant the seat giveaway grant from the county.
Okay. And we worked through dune savers, keep penelis beautiful and a whole bunch and we had a whole bunch of volunteers to come out and with I actually unfortunat I was traveling. I I couldn't actually be there but I helped you know lead a great job. We planted all up at U
upam right in front of the paradise girl there not in front of Starlight and yeah I saw that and you did a great job and they've managed to actually be quite resilient volunteers no problem planting so labor is not an issue it's it's um
funding and then finding appropriate plant material and then we would work with um the CCCL you know um county coordinator and get a a field permit where where needed to to go do that. So,
kind of first is cash, second is finding, you know, working with Zach and his team to go find plant material because it's in great demand. And then finding labor, there's you put it out there and people just flock because everyone's so passionate about it. Okay,
cool. Thank you. Yeah. Did you It's Yeah, it's not a special operation. It's really simplified. You know, I I order from a nursery down south. Uh I did go out to bid for a few places to get some some bids for it. And you know, for $5,000, I
can buy about 3,000 sea oats. So, and if you're if you are curious, I believe that Tampa Bay Estuary Program and uh a few of those other programs around here, um they have $5,000 grants that are available to uh communities and people
uh to reach out for. And uh that is something you could you could look into as a city and do your own city funded project if you'd like to. Um and you know the labor be free. You just be basically paying for the the sea oats and the delivery and that's about it. Or if you even want to go down there and pick them up, you can do that too and
save some even even more money. So uh yeah, well this is your oyster. You can you have the option to do that too. And they, you know, just talking last year, they actually give you a little template of how to plant them, how how far apart and all of that. I'm there drills drills
with augers and it's just a machine line. It it was really impressive how the community came together last year and we had a couple commissioners out there getting their hands in the sand doing it. So, it was a lot of fun. I'll show up. That sounds fun. Yes, it was.
Um, did you have any questions? No. So, Zach, um I've actually reached out asking um for us about the the co giveaway. Thank you for sharing the information. Um you also mentioned that
you guys were considering some sand for Uppam Beach. Um in that email, is there any update on actually getting some re uh reenourishment up there and where is that at? because we desperately need it up at up.
Oh yeah, we we we understand. That's why we are trying to that's why we're not waiting for the court. We we need to go out there and go quickly. So, we are out to bid right now uh to go to basically have all the beaches filled that uh were impacted besides pass. Pass held up
pretty well during the storm and I think after the storm it was uh 95% filled with the template. So that template is completely filled with sand and plus the addition to Dune. Now there's uh even more. So we are still going through with that. I I wish I had more information
for you. Right now it's it's up in up in the air because once we get those bids then we'll see what uh what we can work with and then the funding also will need to come down from there too. Understand? But it should be but our our permit would expire by March 2026. So between
now and then, you're going to try and do what we can to get some sand on the beach. Since you mentioned up, even before uh the hurricanes, I I I bottomed out in blind pass. So is one of the sources of sand just getting the sand right by up
where it seems like a lot of upam sand ended up, you know, even previously or you have to go further for it? That's a good question. Yeah. So, we so we actually have uh one, two, we have
three uh four permanent borrow areas. Uh there's John's Pass, Blind Pass, and Pass Grillil. And then Eggmont Scholes, which is just north of uh Eggmont Key. And those have historically proven to show that they have beach quality sand.
So, the idea is that we would use uh inlet sources because they're so close and because we would like to clear out the inlets. That would be the counties. That would be the preferred way of going, but uh we again have to leave it up to the contractor to see what their
plan is going to be, but it's going to be cost effective to get those that the sand out of there for us and the contractor. I know it's not beached directly, but since you mentioned it, I mean, I just went out to the the new sandbar out by Bunes that's totally separate from Bunes. And I would hope
that they're not going to take away something like that, but maybe just clean out the just general hazards of that route there rather than remove like a whole new fun sandbar, especially as Bunch has got so much smaller now from from Helen and and Milton. But that's
just my personal two cents. Uh having seen us lose what was one once a fun recreation area, but now we seem to be gaining another little fun recreation area. It looks like just throwing we we don't want to we don't have a Buns Pass is not an
authorized uh bar area. So we would not be taking anywhere from Bun's Pass. uh that that beach is actually one of the least of my concerns because it does go through cycles and that sandbar has come up uh actually about two other times in history. So that beach nourishes itself
which means my job is done there, you know. So that's the least of my concerns over there. The other beaches I have to worry about, but that Fortto uh is thankfully it's self-nourishing at this point. So I I'll I'll I'll keep it that way. Right. I just meant you're not going to take from it, but okay. Yeah.
Thank you. So, Zach, I just want to thank you um you know with your work last year and this year and the seats giveaway and all your uh you and Dr. John Bishop's work to uh support our beach. Uh we really
appreciate it. And once you're open for applications for this year's CO giveaway, please let us know. I know this the city is interested and there's also other private non- city entities that are also interested um as we look
at the dunes are the sea seaw walls of the east that when the next storm comes it's going to help us. So we're all you know very passionate about getting some things done. So once that's opened up, um, please let us know because as as you
said, there's a there's a lot of interest in the county. There's a lot of interest on our island and you know, please pass on our thanks to uh John Bishop for us. Of course. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much for letting me speak today. And I want to leave uh leave you with this note. It is it is turtle nesting season. So, um, you know,
with the dunes gone in a lot of places with a lot of, you know, the, uh, properties, uh, a lot of the first floor properties are going to be exposed. So, if y'all can really do me a favor, too, and try to get the the word out that there's lights that are horrible out in
all these all a lot of our municipalities, not not just St. Pete, but a lot of a lot of places just because of the dune being gone, the vegetation being gone. So, please keep that at the forefront of your mind. Um, you know, when you're do going out and looking at these properties cuz we are
going to get hatchlings ending up in a lot of different places. I've already heard from uh Clear Water Marine Aquarium and Sea Turtle Trackers that, you know, the lights out there already. I have the lighting survey. It's It's going to be um a doozy. So, uh it is
turtle nesting season. Please keep your lights off, keep them low, keep them, you know, keep the wavelength long. So, amber lighting, keep it shielded and uh please just help us protect those turtles out there because we do have quite a few nests that pass the role now. So, thank you very much. I appreciate all your help and uh and
thanks you for letting me speak today. Thank you, Jack. Just so you know, um about three or four more items down our agenda, we're going to be talking about the lighting ordinance. Um so, we're also very passionate about that. So, we agree. I love I love that you This is why you guys walk. Thank you very much.
Appreciate it. Yeah. All right. Is there before we move on, is there any public comments for this topic? No. Okay. If everyone's okay, we'll move on to the next um an update update regarding the new staff liaison to the
beach stewardship committee. Yes. So, I spoke with the director of public services because, you know, beach um beaches now falls under public services and they have selected a a deputy director for themselves. Brian
Pekkins will begin on June 16th and he will be the liaison now for the beach stewardship committee going forward. What was his name again? Brian Peekkins and public services is is under is is is
formerly public works. Yeah. And Camden Mills is the director. June 16th. Okay. Great. Okay. I don't I'm assuming there's no public comment on this topic. No. Okay.
Next is uh budget requests. Um, I actually added or asked this to be on um tis the season for budget and if you want anything for next year to happen, you need to get it into the budget conversation. And my purpose of bringing
this up and uh just to make sure that um it's being heard is is there any budget requests or pending um for any areas of the St. Pete Beach government
organization that uh needs to be included in those budget into those budget workshops and is there anything we can do as a committee to help um move that conversation forward with the commission? Well, we do have Pete Dor
here from code enforcement. So, um we have made requests, I believe, to the budget. Okay. To increase coming up our efforts. How are you doing? Hi, good morning. Good to see you, committee members. Um, my name is Pete Der. I'm the code enforcement manager. Um, it
would be helpful. We've already had that discussion um for resources on the beach. It would be helpful um if you can put in a good word for us, but we're already in that process of uh discussing additional resources like vehicles for
example. Um, so if we can get funding for that and and maybe um with your assistance, it would help um get the commission to understand that those resources um are needed if we are to do a good job of enforcing the codes that you're
expecting us to enforce on the beach. Do you need more people? Um it's always a good thing to have additional staff. Um maybe one or two more. Um, but if not, uh, I would prefer the ability to
be able to access the beach, um, in a vehicle as opposed to having a Yako walk out on the beach. Gosh. To do enforcement. You talking like Polaris four-wheeler or Yes, that's a Yes, we're again we we already in that preliminary
discussion with with um the city manager and the commission. What what about do you need uh night staffing like just so you could maybe see lights and things like that? Is that We have night staffing. Um we have three code enforcement officers including
Ayako who is out on the beach and Ayako can tell you she was on the beach um several nights ago one day. And so yes, we have started that process. Um and just to be clear when you're talking code enforcement, you're talking about lighting. You're not talking about
electrical permits above seawater grade and all that nonsense. It's this is all code ordinance code stuff for the beach. Yes. Is is the city have other polarises or or vehicles they could just let your organization use? We are utilizing
public services um vehicles and I think you were out on one of those vehicles Monday. Um, so yes, the answer to your question is yes, we are smallhe drive that you know proper and gators that belong to the parks department, right, is what we've been borrowing. So you're
essentially spanning expanding, excuse me, your operations from, you know, drivebys on the street as a response of the neighbor saying his grass is too tall and now you're going to include the beach areas for whatever. No, sir. We've been doing inspections on the beach since
2016 when I got here. Oh, you have? Yes, sir. Okay. I wasn't aware of that. Thank you for doing that. You're welcome. Should we Is there a specific list that you gave? Is is it appropriate for us to um talk amongst ourselves? Should we ask
about that list and then, you know, I'm willing to go talk to the city manager? I mean, I'd like to know what it is you're looking for proactively in responding to reactively in specifically to new vehicles. No, no. As far as doing
the the review the ordinancing on the beach property as opposed to the non beach property, it's got to be a different set of different ballgame alto together. I'm not sure what you're asking. Lighting. This big list here I think is all the is that it?
These are code enforcement warnings. Police activity. Yes, that's okay. So, in your responsibility on the beach for code enforcement, can you give us like the top three or whatever David Letterman's top 10 list of?
Lighting would be the first. What's that? Lighting. Lighting. Yes. And so, as you're aware, um, and as the gentleman just mentioned, we're in turtle season, right? And, and part of our responsibility, and I'm trying to put you on the spot, but that's fine.
That's fine. Thank you. Part of our responsibility is to ensure that lighting and so what we use is red lights. This lens. Cool. Yeah. And it is pretty cool.
Um if you would like and I can pass this around. You can look at the light for example these overhead lights and then take a look at the exit light and you will see the difference. So, as minimal as this might look, it is effective. And
so, we've been using this for years to ensure that lighting that we can see as we're inspecting um doing those inspections from the beach, that lighting um the owner of of a property that has lighting in violation of our
code, they're notified. Okay. Um for the most part, everyone is environmentally friendly. They want to do the right thing. um as soon as you notify them, they do the right thing and um change the lights
or re-evaluate that situation so that the light is not um observed from the beach. Um but this is effective an effective tool. um as it relates to um I guess the next topic on the agenda I see
was going to be the adoption or a discussion on the adoption of a new lighting ordinance. My input is the ordinance. Can we I I want to hear that but let us get to that on the agenda. You got it. Okay. I'm sorry if you don't mind. I just want to I want to stay. I
don't want to jump. So let me pass this. I just wanted a short list of what they're doing for code ordinance compliance. So during the day the vehicle for instance be used just to get around to do things on the beach. The second item um would be as you're as
you're mentioning um driving around to observe if there is I guess there is supposedly a prevalence which I have not found of people urinating, defecating or fornicating on the beach. And I'm not saying it is not a reality. I'm just
saying it's not a reality as far as I have witnessed. Um the idea is even if we are to witness that, let's say um staff is out on the beach during the day and we do witness something like that, we have um the sheriff's department that will back us up. Um we've called the
sheriff's department on um visitors drinking alcohol, for example, which is another part of what our responsibilities include. So if we are to observe those things, we have the assistance of the sheriff's department. The third thing would be um the the
controlled area for alcohol. If violations occur at these resorts, staff is able to get in touch with management to say, "Hey, um you have been provided a certain area where alcohol can be served. if you're outside of that area,
it could in you could in fact lose your ability to serve alcohol on the beach if there are uh violations that keep occurring. So, those would be our three things that um staff is responsible for on the beach um year round.
And I know um because I'm quite involved with it also dune vegetation, damaging dunes, people going out putting putt putt in dunes, all of those things are also okay included. People going, you know, off the path um
and keeping people on path. So the good thing is that's not in your top three. That means it's not happening often, right? But I also know that you guys are involved in that. Yes. So, this just for you guys out there in that I hold this up and try to look at
the exit sign. If you all turn around, look at the exit sign. It's like that that red orange. It's not there. Exactly. There it's there. There it's not. You look up here at the white and you can see a blue. Blue. I see what that's a violation. This is really cool. Exactly. Now you Now you look like a turtle. Now, I don't
think that this is like a legally admissible thing, but it's a good tool to use. So, you you can tell the, you know, the the people, hey, you got a problem. You know, if they're going to fight you, then you can go to the spectrometer or whatever. But this this should be enough to let them realize, hey, this is something suspicious. Let's
get this. And this is printed out with city logo brought to you by D. Yes. We should have like hundreds of these at city events have for free. Yeah. Yeah. It's nice. I'll tell you and then we'll move forward as a a personal
story. I moved here in 2020. Um in the first year in our building, I have I'm in a condo, small condo building and that first turtle season um we had sea turtles show up in our swimming pool right on the beach. And uh doing some
research, we found out quickly that without code enforcement involved uh that we weren't compliant in um seatro lighting, you had lights that were they were white. Yes. Yes. And apparently before I was an owner, they used to be
yellow and then they burnt out and the maintenance guy put in white that it was. But we worked with uh a grant which is no longer available with uh the Sea Turtle Conservancy and they actually came in and gave us a grant and replaced all of our light fixtures with Sea
Turtle compliant light fixtures. We just had to pay for installation. And so now we have an all orange shaded. There you go. Uh uh lights across uh across our building. And guess what? We don't have sea turtles no longer showing up in our
swimming pool. So, um these things matter and I've seen it personally and uh they do and I know um that you guys just did an enforcement activity because I know other properties have received notices um of that. So, I know you guys
are being active on this. So, not to beat this to death, but and I know I'm the new guy, but I'm going to shut up, right? I keep saying that. But what I'm hearing, this is all reactive. If you see a violation, you're doing something. If you flip it
around and you say, "Okay, you know, if you've got a small condo or if you're the the property manager of a small condo, or if you're the owner of the Serada, just to pick a name, not to pick on the Sarata or anything in in that
spectrum, right? Then once every x number of years or time, you need to come to the St. Pete Beach, here's what you do to protect sea turtle stuff and you need to take that class. You need to pass that class. As a result of doing that, you're going to get X number of these cards and you're going to know
what to do and what not to do. That would be a proactive program to push out there to the folks that are right on the beach that have the opportunity to put these problems out there and we're proactively educating them and giving them the tools to stop that from
happening. Well, just a thought. It's interest you. It sounds like you're at our workshop where um she brought up the Did you bring that up? She brought up, you know, being proactive in doing a campaign annually, not just sea turtle lighting
and friendliness, but all things beach, you know, dogs on the beach, all of those with the hotels, right? I'm stealing your thunder. It was a It's an idea. I would just on on the turtle nesting and now is a good time to do that. Seabirds. Yeah, I I don't recall if it's in our current ordinance, but
our current ordinance does have two two types. It has things that were in, you know, fixtures and what to do about things that were in existence prior to the ordinance, and then it has stricter rules for things that are, you know, being constructed after the ordinance. And this is, you know, the ordinance that was written 15 years ago or
whatever. And I don't recall if it has any rules about, for instance, you know, room lighting, about closing curtains or not. But if it does, I know that, you know, certain cities that uh have rules that like, you know, someone from code enforcement goes out at sunset and tells
the hotel, "Hey, these are the rooms. Go get those people to close their curtains." If we have that in our our current ordinance, that that might be one of the things that we could be doing at night, but I don't recall if it's in our current ordinance, but you know, that that's the awareness that we could
be doing. And then I mean that would be fantastic during at least those couple of months of of turtle season. Yeah. Not the rest of the year obviously, but you know when we when it when it counts. We do take a proactive approach just so you're aware. Every year um staff is
involved and I have done it myself uh in notifying everyone who's fronting the beach. We've actually handed out our existing Oh, good for you. True. That's that's they anyone who um has been in
this city for the last several years on the beach will never make the claim that they've not heard from code enforcement at some point. Right? They cannot because as I said, we have had a yearly proactive approach in notifying um
anyone with a beachfront property that it is turtle season and it's time to, as you said, turn your lights. I had no idea. Thank you for doing that. You're you're welcome. But absolutely it's it's part of our responsibility um especially during turtle season and the code is
specific that we are to do inspections especially um just prior to turtle season and uh to do certain evaluations during turtle season. So it's not as if we're not proactive. We are we I don't mean to apply the No, that's fine. I And
by the way, I'm just you know sorry if I'm thinking out loud, but we don't have to even use a shotgun approach. we can use be very accurate because we have people that are marking every nest like every you know people going out every morning and looking for the new nest and they know how long it takes for these nests to hatch correct so they actually
could could be identifying that this is the nest that we expect to hatch in the next week or so this is the area and I'm getting ahead head nod so maybe not but I think we could be roughly accurate that we know areas to focus on to say Hey, make
sure people close their windows in this area and not waste your time clo, you know, really, you know, bashing people about windows where there's no Nash. That's all I was trying to And we to that point, we do work closely with Turtle Turtle Watch Group. Um, and we
get uh get in touch with Turtle Joe and his wife and they're very helpful. They're great um team to work with and so we're out there with them as well. Um I think uh staff has has um reached out and will be um doing evaluation of the
beach with them um in the near future. I met him yesterday just there you go. Great. So yeah, we work closely with with the group that is out on the beach um daily during turtle season. That's a great report, Pete. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Do we want to ask
for spec the specifics of what code enforcement has asked for the vote for funding for funding have that delivered to us? Absolutely. I'm I'm willing to take that and then any other departments and go have a conversation with the city manager on our behalf. Yeah. So if
you're uh willing, you know, let us know. Give us your wish list. Yes. Like I I was mentioning two vehicles. Um, can you send it to me, you know, through via email? So, and a Polaris. That's Yeah, not much. Maybe 80 to 100,000. Two
vehicles. Two vehicles and a Polaris. Okay. Was there any other departments I echo? Um, nothing that's reached out to me specifically. Gas powered or electric? Gas powered. Okay. I mean, beach maintenance is fall
under public services now. And then I'll reach out to Yeah. marketing, you know, I guess Mark marketing was for the campaign that I put in there for that of a conversation with the the city manager. Do you need more of these uh fancy pants cards that you can't see
exit signs with? Um I'm I'm happy that you brought that back up. We had those printed and that's why it's courtesy of code enforcement because I reached out to um the printer who was was advertising these and they sent us about 300 of of those.
I can I can see the little kids at night like oh look mommy look that you know it's like interesting you say that code enforcement actually went to the public works public services or not public services across the street to recreation uh department recreational department.
Okay. And the uh children in the after school after school program um we had coding for spent showing them the differentiations between lights and um handed out a few of those and the kids were all impressed with our
presentation. I've been a volunteer with the friends of the library for almost 10 years now. And the friends of the library could could I'm not speaking of half of them, but free free form in the we could co-sponsor some cost buy some of those things and I could see the
circulation desk tipping one of those things in every book that known resident on the beach out the door. We would be happy to Oh, look at this. Yeah, gets the the talk going. We would be happy to have
additional presentations. Um, like you just mentioned, if you have an organization that you would like staff to attend a meeting and make a presentation, we're more than happy to do that because code enforcement that's good. Yes, really good. But what I have found is that when you put it in their
hands, it's completely different than when you ask them to grab it for themselves. What have they been given, you know, to each resort manager or like when you send them a notice of violation, you put it in the envelope? Oh, that's not a bad idea. I think we should start. We think you have an
issue, but hey, check for yourself. Yeah. Right. Even before the violation. Yeah. Right. Just go hand them out now. Exactly. We know what we're using. We haven't inspected. Maybe you want to inspect first. Do you know what the cost is for those? Uh, I think around $3. Um,
maybe three bucks a piece. They might have gone up, but yes. Maybe we can make our own. Get the supplies. Good idea. Bunch of gels. Yeah. Yeah. If we're okay, let's we can move forward. Yeah.
All right. Anything else? I'm assuming there's no public comment on Could you Could you stay for some of the other things? I think there's some other topics. Thank you. Any public comment for receipt? All right. Uh move to D. continued enforcement on the beach for
dogs, ebikes, alcohol consumption. Um I echo I think you brought a sub right. So this was a zero tolerance campaign um from the sheriff's department um targeting you know keeping dogs at home,
keep the dunes clean and keep drinks off public beaches. This was um increased patrols notices given on social media, all the city social media, our website and posted on the 75th and the Bayway as you came across into the city. Um the
results of that, if I could have the overhead please on and you all have a copy of the results in front of you. Um, so you can see the number of citations and the number of verbal warnings that were effectively given in that period
between February 14th and April 30th. And um, open for discussion. Yes. So is there anything here about anyone doing anything bad to the dunes? uh dogs glass and and and I I find it
sort of ironic because what what brought on the whole zero tolerance concept was a discussion at a city con city commission meeting about people abusing the dunes and and then at the end it sort of was a discussion that well you
know they're not marked yet and and and and so forth and and here we are and and I don't even see any any Dune offenses um the dog off leash could be, but well, there's always been dog issues. I've seen dogs off leashes in the dunes.
There's always been dogs. Yeah. I mean, dogs is an issue on its own. To your to your point, I've seen dogs off leashes in the dunes relieving themselves all through it, running. I even saw a dog chasing one of the officers that were
speeding to an issue. Are you going to be kidding me? I'm not kidding you. The dog was chasing the the what do you call them? The Polaris Yeah, dogs will always dogs dogs are dogs are a different issue. But and that's the other question
I have is we have dogs off leash, dogs on leash and then dog on beach off leash. What is that third category and how is it distinguished from the other two? Does that mean dog off? I I'm sorry. I just don't understand how there
could be three. This is the sheriff's department's with the way they categorize their warnings. I guess I that first off leash wasn't in on the beach. I that actually is a new category as far as I've seen it. It never previously been given me that third. I
was looking at those. I couldn't figure out how to distinguish them. Yeah. They're either on the leash or off the leash and on the beach. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Those are my questions. I don't know if we ever had the category of people on dune and maybe go back you
know to me vice chair kursman now uh point is did they give any warnings of people being on the dune because I don't think that according to this they did they're not they might not have had the category so they didn't count it the
second is the good thing is um they did put up some rope and post fencing right especially down in Pasigrow and up by the secret garden uh there. And as I've walked, I've I
used to see footprints, you know, and kids climbing up there. Hey, I'm the king of the mountain. Uh with that rope and post, you don't see you don't see many footprints. You still see a couple of people literally going over the rope and post fence and running through over
the wall that is still there to get to their car and run back. I saw the footprints to to do it. So, we've seen a good I have seen less evidence of bad behavior on the dunes, which is great, but we you know, when you see those
footprints, just out of curiosity, how far is the nearest crossover or sign about a crossover? You know, that sometimes right next How lazy are they being? Very. I saw where someone drove a cooler through the passive grill dunes around like what 22nd and it's right next to the walkway. Yep. There was a city person. He drove, we both looked at
it because we thought, was that a turtle? But it didn't have the right markings. But they drug a cooler straight through the dune, which isn't really quite a dune right there. It goes more into that vegetation there. But yes, we both were like, what is this? The ropes. Why didn't they use the walkway right next to the ropes should
make it less convenient to do that than the crossover? Yes, was that where the wall that's where the wall still standed? So they they literally Yeah. put it over the wall. jump the wall and drug drug it up the ramp. The
the other interesting thing I see here is I mean obviously dogs are a big issue. Glass on the beach. I mean terrible. I mean there's 47 of those. there's 71, you know, of the dogs on the beach and then there's 303 alcohol on
the beach and and for the alcohol on the beach and I was talking to some some some residents and the consensus was that and this is this this is not, you know, it's just commenting on alcohol on the beach is that there wasn't a big
concern. There's a there's a big concern about people bringing alcohol onto the beach. Just random people bringing alcohol and getting drunk, but there wasn't a big concern about people who bought alcohol stepping out of the zone with their cup. Um, and yet, you know,
in our in our at least our new ordinance, it's like it's it's going to almost be a war where people have to guard this that nobody steps steps too far with their their cup, you know, beyond the the line. Um, and so I just hope that we we think about that. I I would wonder if this alcohol on the
beach is that because they carried their, you know, their their trade winds cup, you know, 10 feet too far or whether they just, you know, they brought a six-pack and they that beer shouldn't have been there on the beach in the first place. But I guess we can't tell from this, you know, what it was.
Can't tell. So, this is spring break. I did a quick math. 75 days, 300 alcohol vital. It's four a day. We need to thank the Nellis County Sheriff's Office for doing what they're doing. Yeah.
Well, certainly. You know, as I as I received this and I'm thinking about it and looking at it is for a good portion of this time as you came onto the island, there was a flashing sign,
no alcohol, no dogs. Yeah. And then it came down and then it I think it came back up because it's Uh we have the skimmers like that. So we have this and we have in most places as you
go on to the public beaches and public access you have a sign saying no dogs, no booze on the beach. I think it was in one of the minutes I read last night that said every public beach access along the barrier islands of Penllis
County has a sign. No. about different things. We lost a few. I think we've lost a few of the storm, but so the vast majority maybe. Um, yeah, something we can review, but it's just kind of an interesting in human behavior that signs alone are not
stopping the the behavior because there should be kind of no doubt coming onto this island during this time, right? Don't do this. And they still did this. What's the alcohol? The dogs, the alcohol. Um, well, it was spring break.
I mean, this is this is skewed data, right? So, but I what I like is no dogs, black skimmers, that that completes the equation for me. If it's no alcohol or no dog, just no
one no one responds to that. I mean, but still, they knew and they still did it. Yeah. I I actually took a picture of a guy with a in a in a sort of a motorcycle with his dog in the basket drinking a beer. There you go. On the
beach. Trifecta on the beach with an Elon sucks outside on the side. I was just like Anyway, I I I didn't engage him, but I just felt the electric sign is over at the Pasadena bridge that comes across. It's not It's still
sitting on Gula, but it's not active. It's turned sideways. Be nice if they could turn that back on. Maybe with the skimmer, no dog skimmers on the beach. That would be helpful. I love coming across and seeing it. When I come across Pasadena, the reason I brought up the hey, we there were signs and all that in
human behavior and we're still getting this. It gets back to your your point at the workshop and that what you brought up is uh being proactive. What else can we be doing to be proactive in campaigning to the hotels to to to our citizens um and
to our visitors of what the the rules are and um which gets back into our goals that we talked about at the workshop and working with the city manager and marketing of what kind of proactive
campaigns year round can we be doing saying Hey, uh we all need to be reinforcing this as well as continuing to encourage the sheriff's office to continue to hold people accountable to
what the the rules are. Now, we could choose to have a debate about warnings versus tickets, right? Well, uh, but I think having them be active in doing code enforcement for these items, which one could argue wasn't happening prior
to Q1, um, is something we as a committee should continue, in my opinion, to encourage to support. So, just a brief thought, we all know how intrusive, you know, condo association boards can be on
condo living, right? Not to add to that, but you know, if if the condo if the condo association generically speaking is also serving as
policing turtle lighting, then we have just grown our code enforcement effort by leaps and bounds at very little cost. It's just education and tools.
And it becomes over the years, it becomes commonplace for a condo association, you know, board of officials, right, to here's what you're going to do on a weekly or to your point when we know we've got an active nest
really, then here's the window, two week window, whatever it is, let's be hyper vigilant. So, I'm just trying to think of creative ways to get that message out and create more eyeballs on the problem so the problem goes away. All could be a part
of the campaign. Yeah. And and and something that you mentioned, I mean, you talked about, you know, 300, you know, violations, you know, might average, you know, four a day over a 75day period because, you know, spring break, you know, has a lot of people on the beach, right? But, you know, I've
been looking to the beach recently and I've gone out on a number of weekdays and, you know, I'm comparing it to other years and I I'm I'm I think we've got a new issue here. Um, I mean, I could count the number of people I could see on the beach.
Um it's a different situation now between the number of hotels that have not reopened um and and the number of of of bars and restaurants, you know, that have not reopened, right? And and and and just, you know, seas of empty chairs or chairs
that are not even out there. Um I I I I the people aren't even there. Um it's very to me very sad to to see so few people on the beach. I mean and and I
mean you you you you just don't have anything to to patrol right now in many cases. So, you know, we we can't have you you at certain times you can certainly have expectations that the police have a lot to do and and other times, you know, I'm certainly glad that this is this the sheriff's organization
has never been an organization to have quotas or anything like that and and they've always been terrific and they and they and they this has been a terrific organization and and um and I just want to make sure people don't look at low numbers like in the coming report
and go, "What are these guys doing because you know maybe on the weekend there's a lot of traffic when you have the holidays obviously there's going to be a lot of activity and a lot to do those days but on a lot of the weekdays right now there's there's very little activity on the beach. Well kind of good or bad just to your point imagine what
these numbers were would be if we were at full capacity. Oh my god. Yeah. as well as we have an opportunity that as these hotels are opening up, having the city work with them proactively to get this
new messaging in saying, "Hey, here are the rules. Protect the wildlife. Be it the turtles, be it the birds, be it like that. No dogs, no ebikes, no alcohol unless you're in this zone. get them as they're opening back up to start the
good the right behavior now versus having code enforcement having to come back and use the stick. Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. Any uh are we finished?
Well, we could talk about ebikes, but you know, I I've had discussions with people and and we but when we talk about ordinances, we could talk about whether ebikes are appropriate on the beach in certain areas, but we don't have to beat that now. I think that's a state ordinance. It's not No, it's not. It's a city ordinance. Yeah. Okay. Um, any
public comments on this? Yes. Lesie Price, please come up. State your name and your address for the record. and you have three minutes. Um, my name is Lesie Price. I'm 6650 Sunset Way and I'm loving this meeting. I'm the energy and
the excitement and the positivity is just so refreshing. So, thank you all very much for that. Um, in the part uh that John said about letting people know when a turtle nest is going to hatch, that would be so many people just
lined up waiting and the turtles would never like they would probably scream and go back down under. There'd be so many people with cameras and Oh, you don't want them to like that. Okay. Don't make it public. So yeah, when something is going to hatch is a big um thing to keep quiet for the benefit of
the turtles is just really essential. Okay. Well, I I meant our people, our code enforcement people should know to focus on. I guess it would be a telltale, but we don't have to let everybody know why they're focusing on that hotel. How about that? Okay. But if you told everyone that tell them something's
going to happen, then it's going to get out. Yeah. I know where the president is based on when the when the drone alerts tell me not to fly my drone, but I but we still don't let people fly the drones. Okay, right. Um, also, as far as the reenourishment that we've been talking about, um, I was also part of
the the planting that went on at UPM Beach and all the organizations that worked together, again, just a fabulous day. But was really disconcerting is that that area made it through the hurricane just fine. It was after all the people and the vehicles that were
driving over it because it was not well marked and the volleyball groups both formal and informal as well as just um you know there wasn't as much beach so many vehicles had to go around the far side. Um and I went there a couple of
days ago and just took a few pictures and I really had to hunt for any little bit of grass that was left. So, um, making sure that anything we do plant is well protected with the rope and and and such was, I think, real important part that you guys mentioned. Who who put
this volleyball somebody put volleyball nets in the dunes? Is that what you're saying? They're right next to it. They're right next to it, you know, and when so people are at the beach and they want to gather obviously by where the volleyball courts are and they put up their tents because they're there all
day. So, it's fairly natural. But even the informal ones, you know, that's kind of a little bit quieter spot. So that's where they're going to be. It's hard to tell because the the seeds we planted are it's not really a dune. It's more just kind of Right. So it's hard to see that it's exactly supposed to be a dune
area. Yeah. If it's not marked and they don't see it with the market. We So when we planted, we had the benches moved up and I was disappointed to see that they didn't put rope and post where those like that. So maybe we can modified ones
with little tiny flags and the little colored but just didn't maybe we can have a discussion with just I think that needs to be part of the funding in the overall project um from the outset. Great. I still have any time. No, that's
it. Sorry. Well, we took some time. Do we want to agree to give her some more time? Yeah, we were talking during very quickly. Okay. No bikes. All right. We didn't take you leaned into that one, John. And also with the lighting. You guys have touched
on many things that I've um been really concerned and been working on with lighting and um education. And I'm in one of the condo areas that is really really poor about paying attention to their lighting and um bad lighting. But
what I've also noticed uh two things after the hurricane when people were so concerned about um security and safety because everything was just a mess and they were grabbing any light bulb they could find you know so that they could see what was going on around them and
for their safety of where the holes and you know debris was. So, a lot of lighting went up very quickly in response to what they needed to do. And I'm still seeing that there and kind of a little bit more of that trend. And um I'm not sure who mentioned like the lack
of or less vegetation actually over here or maybe Zach. Um that also really made it much brighter on the beach overall. Um, but the second part of that as well is that now people are using the lights
on their cameras and those are so bright and obviously we can't take a little little thing to every person on the beach. But I think that needs to be part of the education with lighting now is the use of cell phone flashlights on the
beach that are just so brilliant. Okay, thank you. Yeah. Any further comments? Yes, Justine Bragg. Please state your name and address for the record. My name's Justine Bragg, 5250 Gulf Boulevard, representing
Belleather Beach Resort. Just wanted to make a comment about um the alcohol and the citations and during that period of time and as Mr. Kersman had mentioned that there are several at least four specifically big resorts that were closed during this time period which
obviously opens up the beach to more of a public spring break atmosphere and I would just like to speak on behalf and you mentioned Mr. Stevens about educating the working with hotels and educating them to help with our guest. We took a big piece of our cabanas and
our alcohol service, our responsible alcohol service out of this part of the year because so many resorts were closed. Therefore, many more people, even though the lack thereof, because I have noticed that, but on weekends and in certain peaks, we saw a pickup in people, but they're at the mercy of
themselves to be on the beach and bringing we no longer had that service offered on the beach to offer the responsible alcohol service to help educate the um guests that come out to um our beaches. And just speaking on behalf of our resort, that is a very big
we have signage all out if we were up and operating. we educate our guests and allow them and tell them what it is, what are the codes. So, I just wanted to speak on behalf of the resorts that we all agree with helping control the beach and helping be able to put those limits
um and educate the team and that also will go in handinand. I wanted to speak more on that alcohol just because we brought up with the citations um but also with the lighting, the education, I couldn't agree more and I think that the tool that uh Mr. doer uh showed was amazing and I think every one of us
should have access. I know I have worked with him over the years to be compliant and he does very proactive approach. So I just wanted to be able to mention that anything you're able to to bring up to the commission the resort we want this as well and we want to be able to work
together to educate our guest and and travelers alike. I couldn't hear which which resort were you? Bellweather Beach Resort. Oh, so you you haven't been open. So So yes, Bellweather Beach Resort and our sister property beach comer um has not been open. So that was also part, you know, big pieces on the
beach during this period um along with a few other resorts. So do do you want me asking are you guys how you guys coming? Are you Jimmy Be's and so forth? Are you guys going to be reopening again or We are. Yes. So that's the plan. So we uh I don't want to say too much, but we're hoping to have those uh whatever you
want to say. Yep. dates, but yes, we are planning to reopen. We are coming back. So, it's just a matter of just doing everything correctly and getting built back. Thank you. Thank you for your comments and thank you for being uh proactive in helping us protect the beach. Thank you. Any other comments?
That's it. All right. So John, before we move on real quick, it to talk about the stuff at Help Beach reminded me there's been a project on the books with the city to to remodel re whatever the parking at the
beach plaza at up and that's been that's been on the books for like I don't know three four years and it's been delayed my understanding right or wrong because of the concerns issues with the coastal
construction line, these sorts of things. And when I last saw it, it looked to me like where there's sea oats, grassy plant material now, just on the west
side of that seaw wall at up. Mhm. Um, some of that may become parking. So, I'd never heard that. That's interesting. I don't know if Have you No, I'm not aware of any
such thing. I mean, can you check on that and see have Brandon Barry here? Do you know anything about that? No. No, you would know. Yes. So, maybe that just died with lack of funding and it's not viable anymore. I I don't know. There is
a the first I've ever heard of it. Okay. There is a company that a consulting firm that's here right now doing a whole survey about parking for the whole city. Yeah. And actually I personally, you know, gave input about parking in that very area, but not regarding expanding
it into the beach area in any way. So, this was early on in Al Johnson's term as mayor that I remember hearing about this. So, it would probably be good if we could just find out if that's still
on the back burner or if there's budget not allocated to it or if it's just dead. So, I didn't work. If that's in the future, we need to know about that. Yes. Okay.
Uh move on to E status of beach ordinance and lighting ordinance. Okay. Brandon, would you like to speak about the beach ordens? Good morning, Brandon Barry, planner. Um, we have a community meeting in a
similar format to the one that was held about a month ago for the noise ordinance. We're scheduling that. We don't have a date set yet. The reason for that is we have a bill that's made it through the legislature. It's before the governor for signature. um that
would significantly affect planning efforts, which most of the beach ordinances in the code of ordinances, but there might be items that we need to discuss with staff and and with the city attorney on whether they can move forward or whether they might need to be modified. So, it's pending that we want
to make sure that the meeting is focused on the items that can actually be addressed. Um if if they can all be addressed, it's it's not clear at this time. So, I think we're looking for at sometime in June. We'll get it on the website. will make sure that the beach stewardship committee knows when that community meeting is going to be held.
Um, as for the lighting ordinance, despite the fact that FD is the one who prepared this model ordinance, um, there are some items in there that also pertain to development and that that it's Senate Bill 180 if if any of the members have been tracking that. Um, it
is fairly expansive in in its restrictions. So, uh, we don't have any guidance on that yet. We're going ordinance by ordinance and um we're hoping to have more information soon, but we expect by the end of June uh for the governor to take action on that that Senate bill one way or another. Um so we
should have more guidance in in the near future. That's all I have. Thank you. Go ahead, Brandon. Thanks for being here. I'm coming late to the party. It's okay. And I know you guys been hammering on this beach ordinance for like what, three
years? two years trying to, you know, bring together all these disparit rules and but what I've heard is recently the approach has changed a bit to where it's you all or we are now looking at piece by piece by piece. Is that a good
way to I I think the focus was to really hear from the community at the community meeting. We had a similar one from the noise ordinance recently and just meet out what you know what what's the community's focus at this point in time. How should we be handling this? The
guidance we received from the commission last summer was to bring this forward as one document. If the request is to split it up, we'd be happy to do so. There are behavioral and conduct and maintenance related items in the ordinance that seemed fairly controversial, at least as
I understood them. Um those would not be affected by that Senate bill. So, anything related to requiring a permit to operate a business on the beach or anything dealing with dogs or noise or anything like that, that would all be exempt from any effect the Senate bill
would have. So, those items could be brought forward separately. That's an approach the commission will ultimately decide once hear from this. Yes. It was do the whole my understanding was the first and someone correct me if I'm
wrong because it was even before I was on three years ago it was hey we have beach rules all over the place and it's hard to understand them all let's all put them in a place and John I know that the process of doing that was messy and I know you have opinions of that but
ultimately was to get one place that people could easily understand businesses residents everyone here's here's the rules And that went through several cycles and now they we had we had a thing right before the hurricanes that it was going
to go and then the hurricanes came and then uh there was players you know different legal and city manager all that kind of changed through all of this. Now they had their first reading and now they're trying to
decide with all of this. Do you try and get it all at once or go into parts? But still the the word the the uh process was still to get it all in one place to make it easy for everyone to understand here are the rules of the
beach. And and this is more of a housekeeping thing, but while you're here, I talked with Vice Mayor um Marriott this morning, and apparently the Senate, I don't know, but the folks in Tallahassee, there's something on the
books about if if one aspect of an ordinance is challenged, the entire ordinance is temporarily shut down. That's what I was told this morning. So, do you know anything about that? That that is that's part of the Senate bill.
Now, the I guess upside to that would be that it's not they can't automatically go to appeal if the city were to pass an ordinance and one piece of it were to be found invalid in in the context of this the bill. Um they have to give us some time to cure. So, it's not that it
necessarily invalidates everything within the ordinance. We do have time to cure, but okay, that is if if it does make it to court and it's it's found invalid, it would right? Potentially do that. So go ahead. Well, the irony is, you know, we're trying to, you know,
collect all this stuff into one bucket, right? But maybe it's safer separate to make it safer. And now maybe it's going to backfire if we go. So maybe we do the we do both. We say, "Hey, here's the beach ordinance. Here's the bucket of beach rules, ordinances." And then we have all these disparit ding ding ding
ding ding. This is your purview. ordinances for the noise ordinance for the sea turtle ordinance for the but it's all Yeah. That's why I say it's housekeeping. Yeah. So, so originally I was, you know, I was a beach steward when we we started this project and then a number of the beach stewards, two of
them actually became city commissioners. Uh but I've been consistent through this and um originally it did start as you know as housekeeping as and I don't back originally I don't think Brandon I don't think you were really involved with it because you've been brought in later and there's been a lot of moving parts. we've had its changes and and all sorts
of things. And so I think that's part of the issue is that a lot of people have changed and come into it as its goals even changed. And I think that originally when when people were looking at it, it's not really an opinion, but but you know, as as um things move sections, for instance, we have a chapter called animals and for whatever
reason, you know, if the animal section said, you know, you don't feed the birds in the parks or the beach and someone crosses out the word beach because now we have a beach section. It's just disconcerting to have an animal section that says don't feed the birds in the in the park and have it no longer mention
the beach. Normally your animal section stays, your alcohol section stays and you cross reference, you put everything together. So those are the kind of inconsistencies that that concern me and and and so one thing was just administrative, you know, administratively we wanted to make sure
all of our other chapters didn't get harmed by putting things together. But then from a standpoint that really hit us was there was the law about the business impact estimate that had to be done and that was what actually suspended the beach ordinance uh a year
or so ago because when that Senate bill happened when we said oh wow we have to do business impact estimates what's everything going to cost you know every change we make has to be calculated that suspended things then uh there was the resurgence in looking at this and I
think that's when you were asked to get involved olved again and look at everything. Um, and now we've got the Senate bill which I'm hearing may even affect things like the turtle ordinance aspects or the turtle things. And here we have a a model ordinance the state has for like how do you protect the
turtles and I I you know watching that watching the planning board you know uh you know meeting you just had I think I heard PE maybe you or somebody was saying that even those kind of things may be affected by is that true that
possibly um the development related elements of it yes for some of the more maintenance related items like you you had brought up earlier the standards for existing developments, changing out bulbs and making them long wavelength or
um you know putting sconces on things like that would almost definitely not be affected by this because those are more maintenance related and those are exempted through the statute definition but anything pertaining to new development that is more burdensome or restrictive that's you know new
buildings new construction that's where it becomes an issue. Now it says land development and it says conditional use. What about your regular MUN code like your regular activities? Can can those become more strict or is it only the land development in the cup that gets more restrictive? So the the term they
use and there is a definition for this in statute. It's a development permit which includes any building permit. It's any zoning approval. For example, we approve signs even though they're not receiving a conditional use for a site plan. So it's anything within that scope, but maintenance activities um
those are exempt. So there there are certain things in the model ordinance that require adoption of overlays and there might be other ways to achieve that. We just really need to sit down and and parse out what that'll be like chairs on the beach might be if I may point um are we jumping into item G
here? Uh overlapping a little bit. I could talk about Senate Bill 81. No. Well, because he's we're going to because we're kind of going back, you know, I think we got the status. Yeah. I didn't realize about the status. Well, it's sort of the same. Okay. Yeah. But it's we can choose, you know, we can
step back and choose or we just want to try and keep fine. It's the status. Okay. Can you stay for later for G? Oh, yeah, of course. I mean, come back for G. Okay. Thank you. Are you able to speak to the the lighting ordinances the same? We It's It's the same. Um, I think
there are only a few items in there that we need to talk over at staff and and with the attorney. Um, most of it is more maintenance related requirements. Um, so I don't think it's it's really pertaining to development particularly. Um, but we just need to go through the model
lighting ordinance. And there's really nothing in the Senate bill that exempts state prepared ordinances, but it was prepared by FT. It received their blessing. It's still posted on their website. and and this Senate bill applies to the entire state as it's currently written. So, we'll need to
talk through how we're going to address that. I do have a question about the the status of the beach ordinance. As you go from like the first reading to the second reading, I noticed that there were new things introduced in in the beach ordinance, for instance, like chicky huts. All of a sudden, there was rules about, you know, you could have
chicky huts. How did things like that get into the beach ordinance like between readings like that? I mean, it wasn't like someone added it because like who would add that? Like, who would ask for that? So, we did add a few items that what I remember drafting was to
address some of the concerns that were brought up by the hotels. Um, I I don't remember adding anything on chicky huts. We do have a a tiki hut section, so it's possible it was consolidated in from the land development code, but chicky huts are regulated by the state really. They're they're outside the building
code. So, we might have just been certifying that. I I don't remember. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any public comment? Yes. Jolen Lawson. Please state your name and your address for the record. Oh, sure. So, Jolen
Lawson. It's 5407 Leilani Drive. Um although I'm not living there now because the house is substantially damaged. Um sorry to hear that. Yeah. Uh, I uh don't get to walk on the beach as often as I used to, but I was out
last week on Thursday at like 9:30 p.m. looking at lighting um from different condos. And I know we've been talking about that. Uh so I just thought I would share some pictures that I found when I was walking and maybe these are already things that you all recognize and
perhaps code enforcement and IOK also because I know you've been talking about that and um citing violations. So, I don't know, maybe this is all things that you already know, but I was um at least thought, "Wow, there are a lot of lights coming from certain sections on
the beach and it's turtle nesting season, so I thought I would bring those up." Um, could we have the overhead, please, Jamie? Jolan, that's huge. Thank you for doing that. Oh, sure. I can't wait to see what you got. And if you can email them in afterwards so they can become part of
the public record, too, that would be helpful. Oh, sure. It's a great idea. to see Mark. So I live off of 55th. Um and then this is the parking lot there with Sara and then we've got um Seamark.
Yeah. But this is I believe called Sun R. Actually it kind of blows up just with a white light on the phone there. But um between the beach and sunrise condo is the parking lot. So, that looks pretty
bright. Um, then let's see. We have this is some you can tell are yellow, although it's hard. This projector and some are white, but um also strings of
lights around the pool deck. Um, for the record, do you remember what you said? Thursday of last week. Thursday of last week. Yes. Yeah. So I was out there just Monday night and those are all the properties that we did identify as well. Okay. And then the last one I guess was
let's see standing on um so looking north this is envoy point and then up there by secret garden. So this is just me standing in front of Tinland's property looking north. So
it's bright. Yes. Looks like a little lighthouse. Uh anyway, that's that's what I wanted to share with you this morning, those pictures. Um were those just the lights in the windows of the of the uh it Yes, that's what it looks like. They could
also be lights on the property. And you know, I know that when you walk by at night, it doesn't look like there are a lot of people there because their hurricane shutters are closed, but then at night, it really is lit up. So, I'm not sure.
Thank you for sharing. And um as city council asked, if you could email them into the clerk's office, that would be great. And and then I saw some of those pictures yesterday and and some of them are just simply uh lights light bulbs are mounted outside on walkways, which I've talked
about before. They're just white lights that are on the walkway. Some are yellow, and I don't know if they would be the spack, but they're they're white. and and we've had in the code, you know, for years, even if they're pre-existing, right, fixtures, to change them to the right bulbs.
Any other comments? Lesie Price, Pete, did you want to say anything about the lighting ordinance? Pete Der, code enforcement manager for the city of St. Pete Beach. Um, the only addition I would say is the existing
ordinance um for beachfront lighting is adequate enough for us to be able to enforce the code. Um, I've seen the the FWC uh ordinance. it would create a lot of difficulty for staff to enforce if it
was uh to be adopted. Part of the difficulty um involves the expectation that we're to be on private property at 10 9:30 11 at night and that is not going to happen. Um one I guarantee you
none of you would want us on your property at that time of night. Um the way that it's currently done based on the ordinance that we have um is I just showed you and um like you just saw you
can be on the beach not on anyone's private property dead at night and still be able to enforce the ordinance as it's currently written. the um and we know that um the FWC ordinance as as you
mentioned although it's it's pretty comprehensive thorough um it would create limitations for us because um we had an FWC representative who showed us how they go about um taking these readings and you
have to be on someone's property right up against the light to um have the uh spectrum erometer read the accuracy of of whether it's a long or short like the way it's currently being done. Um we are
able to get uh quicker results and not put staff at risk or anybody else at risk of being on their private property. So I I I would um maybe some tweaks to the existing ordinance would would be helpful, but uh full sale u full scale
adoption of the FWC ordinance I I would um not recommend. Could you recommend those tweaks? Because that's where I was going. I mean, we've had we've had scenarios where we've had people who just swearing that they've and I've taken pictures and you know, people have
taken pictures where they think they've seen non-compliant lighting for you know times that but but then other times they say well the city says there's no there's full compliance and they're like well there's a disconnect and how do we
fix the disconnect? So think of what you just observed based on the lighting in here right? Um, yes, I have seen some of those um pictures that were presented to the commission. Uh, for example, Tradewinds, there's a huge light on on
one of their buildings. I mean, you can't miss it. There's a huge light on the top of the building. That light is and it was presented as in violation. That light is compliant based on our our lens that we use. Now, if um we use a
spectrometer, it might get a different reading depending on the length of the light, but the point is even though it's presented as in violation. And so, for example, we just saw some pictures, I'm not saying that any of those lights are compliant, but if we put it through that
lens, it might tell us a different story. Again, understanding that what was presented, they all look like they're in violation. to to be frank, people, you know, people keep going out and taking pictures. I've gone
out, I've looked, I said, "Look at these white lights." And it makes people think that code enforcement is is not doing, you know, getting mad at people they think they should be mad at. So, how can we how can we make it that people
realize that that they're not seeing how do we make it that everybody realizes that code enforcement is doing it and it's the it's the it's the law that needs to be tweaked or how do we how do we make it that we're all on the same page that this is not like you
know rules are being ignored. So, so for example, um let's look at the exit sign light, right? If uh a resort or some other private property had that light and it was bright at night, you would think it's a violation, but you clearly
saw when you look through that lens that that amber light can't be observed hopefully by by a turtle, right? Um, but this idea that we're not out there, I will attest to we're out there every
year. I have been doing this personally doing this since 2016 where I have printed 50 odd copies of our existing ordinance and handed them out to beachfront properties. Every single year we've done that. Staff has actually now
ratcheted up not just handing out the ordinance, but sending notices of violation. Gayaku can attest. She was out there Monday night. We have been doing this since 2016 during turtle season every year since 2016. So this
idea that we're not out there. I will tell you right now that that's a fallacy. We are out there every year doing what we have to do pursuant to the ordinance that we have to enforce. Now, I guess part of the answer to your question of getting us all on the same
page is I guess what we're doing right now is communicating and you guys are, I'm hoping, being enlightened to the point that we're out there. Um, I think the young lady just told you that we take a proactive approach and she is a a
a potential violator and she just told you that we're out um being proactive, right? I'm not saying she's in violation now, but the point is at any point in time we can go by Bell Weather and see some light that could be in violation.
So, like the lights I'm thinking on the on the on the side of that building that are white. If I go with that blue thing, I'm probably going to see that either either I don't see them or maybe the blue thing isn't as perfect as I think. And and I think they found violations on Monday. They just haven't been written
up. So, those were in violation. Okay. And citizens can report by address any any violations for investigation. Okay. Thank you. As long as you provide your full name and address, which is a new state law. State law. It's not code enforcement being difficult. We have to
abide by it. So I go back to your original your very first statement about changing or not changing the original code to the new one. I would think we should consider asking um and this
should be for any ordinance is what would court what what changes would code enforcement like to be made to the new proposal so it is more friendly or more more approachable for them to hold
people accountable. So I would think I would ask can you look at and make suggestions to Brandon or whomever is leading it for the for the staff what changes you would like and then bring those back to us so we can consider
um because I think we're already down the path that hey we want to go down this but I also don't want to put it I don't think we want to put something in place that is uninforceable right so I've always said Hey, you know, here's the intent. Here are the things we want
to do. Let the the staff and the attorneys go word it because we can get caught in wording, but also say code enforcement. What do you need in there to make sure it's enforceable? So, it's it's a process. Um, so it sounds like you would like some changes into that to
make it more make it at least in your current staffing and the tools you have to make it that you can enforce this new one. I would I would encourage or ask you to make those recommendations and I would love to see them. Okay. And and so
you know we do work closely with with staff including Mr. Barry and Mr. Brooks. So we we're in communication with these ordinances because they do affect um you can write hundreds of ordinances. If they can't be enforced it's just a waste of your time, right?
Um, so the idea is, um, we do get together and hopefully we can come up with what you're requesting. Give us a red line and it can take a look at it. And I know we have FWC that um has volunteered to be a part of this because
ultimately it was a model ordinance. It wasn't, hey, take this and do it. That's what I wanted to ask. It's it's say here's a model now tweak it that works for your city. And I think we're in that process and I'm excited that we're in this and we can do that. Okay. Yeah.
We're allowed to. It's not a hey, take this, fill in the blank and go, right? You can do that. But this is the model code. Amend as you see fit. Yes. And adopt and enforce and have fun. I think that's what I think uh we should do as
the next step is absolutely very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, everyone good with that? Thank you. I echo I knew he was staying and I trying to get through this. Next, uh item F. Uh sea turtle nest activity. So,
as of this weekend, um I counted eight nests out there. Two of them north of the Donses and the majority of them from the Donses South and Pasil. There's I was I walked the beach last
night around five o'clock for and there's one in front of the trade wind ser. Oh, that's number nine. And I think I didn't see that the day before. Yeah, I think it just popped up last night before last. Okay, so that's number nine.
It was marked. So, Turtle Joe was busy. Yeah. Is that the typical ratio or unusual? No, I think we we heard from sea turtle tractors um Teresa at our previous meeting that um obviously last year was
very devastating that it seems to be a bianual um cycle of where this is a year they expect a lot more to be approaching our beaches. So this is supposed to be a good year. So I meant the ratio of north versus south. Um I think typically they
have been more towards the south historically as I remember. Yeah. And and I think the the turtles come each turtle only comes every two to three years. So you're gonna have different uh right froches or right and eight weeks later we should
see the hatchlings hopefully. Yeah. It's not on here if is the the birds in the nesting. We should probably talk about that. I know it's not on there. Are you guys okay for me to ask? Do you have any? the skimmers. Um, their area has
been posted off already and they've actually got a larger area and then a smaller area towards the south, just a little one there. Again, I've been out of town. I have it in front of the mariner. Um, same place they were last year. Mariner next to the bonire. Yeah.
Yeah, that's a big That's right. That's the usual one, right? The bonire. And FWC is out there daily. I've seen them patrolling or standing there. And um of course the Ottabon Society posts a person there to it's great keep people
away as well as educate. They're great volunteers. They'll come up and they they'll some of them have their cameras and show you the pictures with the long lenses and all that. Again, I'm playing catchup here, right? And I know you know the fireworks are going to go off before
we meet again. What what are we what's the city doing for fireworks this year? and sea turtle and not sea turtle the skimmers. Well, there fireworks are banned on the beach. Okay. So, they do increase patrol around
at that time. Fourth of July, send out messaging public fireworks on the beach for shoot down here at Corey. We used to not city sponsored, but I believe I think they might be doing it down at Corey again. Yeah. So, you said Bonire, what was the other location?
Skimmer. It's pretty much the same area. Bonire Mariner, just a larger group and then there's a smaller one slightly to the south. Okay. Um what's the board's feeling about, you know, the signs that say no dogs,
uh nesting skimmers for the weekend or whatever the fourth is, fireworks, no fireworks, nesting skimmers. Couldn't agree more. Oh, yeah. Yeah. No dogs, no fireworks, nesting skimmers, you know. I just, you know, and and
let's let's like be zero tolerant. I feel like you almost need to say baby birds. I mean, you really almost have to say there are babies out here. Yeah. I mean, they're not babies yet, but I mean, there's no way to stop the public from shooting off their private
fireworks, but we can do I mean, maybe we put a call to action out for volunteers and and cordon off. I don't know. It's Yeah. I mean, no fireworks baby birds is clearer than nesting skimmers. I mean, nesting skimmers. Skimmers is skimmers are something you
jump on when you're riding on the beach. You jump on them. Those are skimmers. So, Ralph, is that something that can be enforced by a court or are our our ordinance of people? Yeah, I think fireworks are illegal, even the private ones. So, the sheriff's deputies and
code enforcement could enforce that. And you could certainly have signs put up. I think we have a sign shop or we order signs. I'm not sure of the process of how how public works does that. I mean, you know, you got you got fire department personnel out there on the beach because the fireworks anyway. I
mean, it' be nice to have them also be looking for bird issues. I was thinking just the the electronic sign. It's at the bridge. Yeah. It just a warning just for that weekend because it's only for the weekend, right? Yeah.
July 4th weekend. Just if we could somehow influence the electronic sign that was special warning about the baby. I've got that noted for the sheriff's department. They they're the ones that manage that sign. All right. Any public comment on this? No.
We'll go to our edit um number G, which was Senate bills. you could you volunteered to give us. So, Senate Bill 180 did pass both the House and the Senate. Ultimately, there were
some changes as it went back and forth. And so, now it just awaits governor's the governor's signature. Um, we believe that the governor will likely sign it um and not veto it. There's also a possibility that if he doesn't sign, it'll go into law anyway without signature.
um similar to Senate Bill 250 that happened after Ian, which he did sign. Um it has a couple different sections. Um section 28 relates specifically to hurricanes Debbie, Hela, and Milton and any of the counties that are within the
executive orders for those three hurricanes. When you put those two maps and overlay them, that's the entire state of Florida. So, this will affect the entire state of Florida. Um and in this one, no local government, including
a county or city, can adopt a moratorum, propose more restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations, or propose or adopt more
restrictive or burdensome procedures concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or development order as those terms are defined in the statutes. And this
um preeemption is retroactive to August 1st, 2024. So if if an ordinance was adopted after that those hurricanes on August 1st between then and now when the bill's not
even law yet, it would be void abio. So, it wipes out any ordinances that were adopted post hurricane. Um, if anyone thinks that an ordinance was in violation of that of this section,
they would have to give notice to the city, 14-day notice. It would give the city 14 days to to respond, possibly repealing the ordinance or repealing a section of the ordinance. And if they go forward to court, whoever brings it to court,
um, if they prevail obtain attorney's fees, what's a comment on that? Um, and this this expires um in June 30th of 2028. Um, but the moratorum and preeemption would be until June of 2027.
So we can't propose any ordinances until June of 2027 that would be more restrictive or burdensome with regard to those delineated things comp plan amendments land development codes site plan uh permitting for
example then there's another section where they're creating a section in Florida statutes that would automatically kick in anytime there's a hurricane in the future and it has the same restrictions and it would be for one
year from the hurricane. So in the future, if there's a hurricane even after 2027, say in the summer of 2027, that would extend the deadline then to 2028 before we can
propose and adopt any new ordinances. If we're somehow blessed with not having a hurricane in a particular season or an executive order about a hurricane, um then you could adopt more restrictive or burdensome procedures, but for now we're limited to the ordinances in the
land development code and the comprehensive plan that we have on the books. Now, we still can do other ordinances of the nature that Brandon was referring to, what I call behavioral ordinances. No alcohol on the beach, no dogs on the beach. we can refine those
ordinances. They're not about land development regulation. And we're looking at each of the sections of the beach ordinance to see how they may or may not be impacted. And it looks like the lighting, if we're talking about the wavelengths of the light bulbs that are
being replaced, isn't really land development. It's just maintaining your lights that are already there. That's probably okay. Um there are some other areas that we're going to have to look uh very closely at. Um, in other legislation, it looks like
the D beach renourishment program was funded for 50 million, but that's spread out among the state. And again, that's a cost share that the state does. Um, but again, the full budget hasn't passed yet, and that's going to be the subject of this extended
session. So, that's um there was one bill that didn't pass. It said that the TDC could not use or that we couldn't use TDC funding for beach reourishment anymore, but that failed. So that didn't pass. First development though was TDC.
Yeah. The bed taxes, some portion of that was going to beach reourishment and funding a local share of beach renourishment and there was a threat to that, but that did not pass. So we're so far okay on that. Thank you. Can I ask that? You said the one-year
trigger, the where the more restrictive is that if anywhere the state of Florida is hit by a hurricane? No, that one has a limit limitation as well. That one is, let's see
here, that has a different definition. For one year after a hurricane makes landfall, an impacted local government may not propose or adopt. And then it says impacted local government means a county listed in a federal disaster
declaration located entirely or partially within 100 miles of the track of the storm declared to be a hurricane 100 while the storm was categorized as a hurricane or a municipality located with
any such county. So this time it's the track, not just the landfall, but the track as it moves across the state from one way, one side to the other, anywhere within 100 miles of that track. Wow. Once so once it's declared a disaster, it's it's a bad guy
and then it's 100 mile radius the whole track of the track. Okay. But the first one, you said the overlap map was the state of Florida. The first one's different. Okay. for Debbie and Hela and Milton. It's anything any local government that was
part of the governor's executive order, which is when you overlay the storms, it's everywhere in Florida. Okay, that helps. Okay, thank you. That was helpful. It's It's in a federal disaster declaration, not
the governor's executive order, but the federal disaster declaration. But when you overload those maps, it's all of Florida. I don't think there's any public comment for this one. Any other questions? Okay, we'll move to the last
um you were beach closure. Yeah. Information. I think there was some algae and there was some Well, it was interarachi or whatever it's called. you know, people they they closed the beach from Indian Rocks to Clearwater and uh it made me remember that we had we we
had encountered this once before that we wanted to have something on the city website that let people know. I I didn't know for instance whether we weren't named because we weren't tested or because we passed and so I wanted a place to look and I wasn't quite sure where to look. So, I think I brought
this up last time when we discussed the health of the beaches and I referred you all to the Panelis County website where they do have the testing done and they have a map that visibly shows the last state that the water was tested and the and the result. Um, if the water was
deemed to be unhealthy, it would be the health department or Penelis County that would actually put a uh restriction on there. No swimming allowed, beach closed, things like that. So, um, we had discussed the possibility of just providing the links to those websites
from our page saying, "How is how healthy is our beach or something that hasn't been done yet, but that's what I was looking for." And then and then the other side of it was, and this is really disappointing, and this is nothing to do with us ourselves, but it could happen to us, too. I mean, I had friends over
and they wouldn't go in the water all weekend because they said, "Oh, you know, there's the stuff in the water." And then on Monday, I got my email. No, on Tuesday I got my email. There was a patch article from Monday that said, "Oh, we have the results of the sample
from Thursday at Indian Rocks that says the water is fine. It's clear now." So, people all weekend didn't go to the beach, not knowing that the sample from Thursday showed that the water was fine. So my question is how is it because it
takes a certainly it takes a long time for it to hit the press but is it that the technique that they use at the lab takes you know 24 hours or 36 hours in the test tube till they know or is it just slow before the word gets out like
do you know I I don't know I mean I can't speak to their testing methods of how quickly the results um can be obtained but I do notice that when I have ever looked at the maps to the results the the last posted results is
substantially delayed. It's like a week behind when I'm you know actually looking hasn't been updated yet if they have retested. So it is a delayed output of the result. I mean I've been involved with the lake and we've had that problem too where it's a long delay and it and it's it's just tragic when you you know
you're not swimming because of you know something that that's been cured. Um, and then and then the other thing that I found really odd about that one was uh at Indian Rocks was that, you know, they they there was an alert that someone
else posted and I couldn't find it any signed up to the to get the alerts now, but there was a a a sewer valve that broke off and from May 12th to May 13th, they released, you know, 17,000 gallons worth of sewage at Indian Rocks and none
of the alerts mentioned that. So, everybody's thinking, oh, there's something weird out in the Gulf that's that's affecting all the beaches and instead they could have said, well, you know, there was a valve that broke at Indian Rocks. Maybe that has something to do with the fact the Indian Rocks beach is has a no
advisory. And then, of course, also there had just been all that heavy rain after a long dry spell, which everybody knows if you have a flushing of your, you know, you're cleaning the streets and you're cleaning nature. I mean, nature nature is not clean. Nature has
animals that do things and you wash all that stuff into the water. That's what happens when you have rainfall after a dry period. So, none of that got communicated. Now, everybody's sort of wondering, you know, well, for the weekend, they're going, "Oh my god, we can't go on the water." And and it
carried forward to our beach. Um, so I'm just trying to figure out like what we could do to not harm our beach unnecessarily when they have bad news and you know just try to Right. Well, we were clearly not one of those three
beaches that were closed. So I think your guests or whoever were visiting um probably took it upon themselves maybe to assume that it filtered all the way down to our end of the beach as well. But um you know I think we should follow
up on the the links to the website. We talked about that before. That would be helpful. We're never going to be able to you know fear, uncertainty and doubt of hey there's an article that there's something going on 10 miles away or five miles away.
I I we can't solve that problem. You can have a resource saying here's where the official place is for the information. go click on it and you know consume that information to make your own. The other piece would be if we somehow knew about those like sewer man you know sewer
breaks because then we sort of like know why it happened and that might help us sometimes to I mean the education side on the on the department of health does tell you the reason why you see these huge algae blooms or whatever is in the water is usually due to some sort of
release of discharge whether it came from a broken sore. So, um I don't think they publicize that connection. You know, they just say the beach is closed or healthy or not healthy and the beach is closed. They're not going to make the connection to it was to this. Yeah. Then
I thought maybe Yeah. that I shouldn't have mentioned it. I mean, I mentioned it as a person, not as a beach tour, but I'm like, how come nobody's mentioning that? that is explained on the on the page at the health department that these blooms are due to a release of you know whatever matter in the water that causes
the growth of these algaes. Okay. Um I added I but we have already uh covered the beach ordinance so I'm fine and I think with that we're No, I had one other thing. I just wanted to mention that I I misspoke earlier when I read through the minutes. I just didn't
realize that it was two separate meetings. I was fine with all the minutes. So, if you want to go back and readress, yeah, that that all the minutes were okay as far as I was concerned. You get a motion for March 20th minutes. Yes. I I I make a motion that the March 20th minutes were were to
approve. To approve. We have a second. I can second. Roll call. Member Looney. Excuse me. Member Thompson. Abstain. Vice Chair Kersman. Well, you can't abstain. I'm sorry. Sorry, I know you weren't here, but you can't abstain under the law. I don't
want to get you in trouble. So, if you take their word for it, the people that were here, you have to vote yes or no. Yes. Thank you, Vice Chair Kurszman. Yes, Chair Stevens. Yes. Motion carries. Do we need to go back? He abstained on the
first go. Either approve or deny. Can I have a a motion to reapprove the minutes from the February meeting? I need a motion. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the February 26 regular meeting. Can I have a second?
I'll second that. Roll call. Member Thompson? Yes. Vice Chair Kersman? Yes. Member Looney? Yes. Chair Stevens? Yes. Motion carries. And with that, we are Good catch. Thank you. Yep. Good catch.
Thank you. Thank you.