Issue VIII July 1998

In This Issue:



Planning Council to Update Mission Statement

The Pinellas Planning Council prepared and approved initial Mission and Role Statements in 1994 to better define and guide its purpose. As a function of this initial strategic planning process, the Council approved and has followed a Five-Year Work Program — the fifth year of which is now scheduled for 1998-1999.

The lead provision of the current Mission Statement reads as follows: “The mission of the Pinellas Planning Council, as the advisory body to the Countywide Planning Authority, is to establish a representative forum for countywide planning that provides for overall policy direction, plan consistency, interagency coordination, and technical assistance in furtherance of a coherent, efficient and effective countywide planning process.”

As the Council approaches the fifth year of the original Five-Year Work Program, it is both timely and appropriate to review and update the Mission and Role Statements which have served as the foundation for the overall direction and focus of the Council's efforts. The Council anticipates a formal review and update of its Mission and Role Statements though a “visioning” process scheduled for this fall. The challenge is to reach consensus on the role and function of the Council and to translate that role and function into definitive tasks that have the potential to be meaningful from a countywide planning and implementation perspective. It will necessitate input not only from the individual Councilmembers, but from their counterparts on the elected bodies of the jurisdiction they represent, as well as the Board of County Commissioners in their role as the Countywide Planning Authority. The ideas and input of all our member local governments will be solicited and considered in this important process.



Local Annexation Measure Passed

The 1998 Florida Legislature passed a local bill entitled the “Act to Provide for the Annexation of Certain Small Enclaves in Pinellas County.” This local bill will allow municipalities within Pinellas County to annex those pockets of unincorporated land of one acre or less totally surrounded by a single municipality. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 1999, and will expire on June 30, 2001.

The Need for the Local Bill

Enclaves can create a multitude of problems for local governments, such as: private wells and septic systems that pose a potential contamination hazard; incompatible land use and code requirements; lack of provision for neighborhood level recreation facilities; no specific provision for solid waste collection; confusion and inefficiencies with respect to law enforcement responsibilities; and potential inequities where the surrounding municipality is providing services and facilities used, but not paid for, by the occupants of the enclaves.

In brief, because these enclaves create such a disjointed pattern of incorporation, it is difficult for either the municipal or county government to comprehensively plan for and efficiently deliver necessary “municipal” services.

   
Scattered Enclaves in Dunedin
 

As a result of the inability to remedy these problems through the otherwise available means, it was determined that this special legislation was needed.


Details of the Local Bill
 With the passage of the local bill, enclaves of one acre or less can now be annexed into the surrounding municipality during a two year time period beginning in July, 1999, through June, 2001. Municipalities utilizing this bill to effectuate annexation must have established a defined planning area and will be required to offset many of the costs to residents normally associated with annexation, such as the cost of extending sewer and water services and the payment of all municipal impact fees. Additional measures designed to offset any adverse financial impact on the enclaves were also included in the local bill, including the right to continue the use of existing private wells and septic tanks until such time as they fail to meet health standards or the property is sold.

Advance Planning Urged
 In order to utilize the provisions of this bill, considerable advance planning will need to take place in order that the annexing municipality is prepared to undertake its responsibilities for funding and constructing necessary service extensions and payment of fees as required by the bill.

The PPC will hold an organizational workshop in late September or early October to review the specific requirements of the bill and to be of assistance in coordinating the needed advance planning.

Future Goals/Prospects
 The local bill addressing enclaves was, by design, limited in its application and duration. It was crafted to overcome the specific problems associated with small enclaves. It was not intended to solve, and does not address, other annexation-related issues for which the Council continues to seek solutions.



Interlocal Agreements with Indian Shores and North Redington Beach

At its June 17, 1998, meeting, the Pinellas Planning Council approved two interlocal agreements — one with the Town of Indian Shores and the second with the Town of North Redington Beach. These two agreements were established to provide each Town with additional assistance from Council staff that would help to efficiently implement these special projects for the two communities.

Indian Shores Assistance
 The Town of Indian Shores Interlocal Agreement provides for assistance in implementing the recommendations found in the Indian Shores Town Square Plan prepared by the Town Square Citizens Committee with the help of Council staff in November, 1996. Through the Interlocal Agreement, Council staff will review the Town's future land use plan and land development regulations, including: parking requirements, stormwater issues, densities, intensities, and permitted uses. In order to implement any recommendations stemming from this review, Council staff will assist Indian Shores in the preparation of such implementing resolutions or ordinances, as may be necessary and appropriate.

Desired Area Characteristics
 The future design for the Town Square Planning Area is that of a mixed-use commercial corridor along Whispering Pines Drive which is parallel to and one block east of Gulf Boulevard. This area will include public places that will serve as focal points to host arts and crafts exhibits and other gatherings for special occasions. A consistent architectural theme will be encouraged to help provide a sense of “place” for the planning area. In addition to creating a pedestrian friendly area, it is proposed that boat docking facilities will be constructed at Estelle Harper Park, located on the Intracoastal Waterway, to allow boaters to access the planning area and the Gulf Beaches.

Ultimately, the Town Square Planning Area will attract additional business such as neighborhood-level retailers along with tourist-oriented businesses.

North Redington Beach Assistance
 The Town of North Redington Beach Interlocal Agreement provides local assistance in completing the Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) that Pinellas County Emergency Management Department is currently coordinating. Council staff will support the Town's representative in completing the necessary requirements for the countywide LMS. There are four contract period deliverables that are identified within the LMS, ranging from general data collection to the inventory of structures which have received repeated storm damage. The LMS is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 1999.

Goals of the LMS
 The National Weather Service has identified the Tampa Bay Area as one of the most susceptible areas to hurricanes in the United States. This makes mitigation policies very important in the reduction or elimination of risks that living in the area pose. In addition to reducing hazards from hurricanes or tropical storms, the LMS will help prepare communities to rebuild faster and better after a disaster. When local communities have identified and prioritized projects that can reduce these communities vulnerability before a disaster, they will be able to rebuild in a way that reduces or eliminates loss of life and property caused by future disasters, which is the main goal of the LMS.



Redington Shores Vision 2000 Uses Photo Conceptual Designs

The Pinellas Planning Council was requested by the Town of Redington Shores to assist in “developing a plan that will guide our decisions in the 21st Century and insure Redington Shores remains the unique, safe and beautiful community we enjoy today.” To better illustrate the recommendations of the Vision 2000 Task Force, the citizen group charged with development of the plan utilized a process that included photo conceptual designs. The photo conceptual designs were created with the assistance of Michael Roiland of the Pinellas County Public Affairs Department, by using computers to manipulate photos of the existing development pattern to illustrate a more desirable pattern with respect to such things as overhead utility lines, signage, and the appearance of Gulf Boulevard.

Vision 2000
 The Task Force spent many hours developing the Vision 2000 Plan including a survey to obtain citizen input, mailing the survey, and tabulating its results. They used this information, along with their own knowledge of the Town, to develop recommendations for the Town Commission. Prior to finalizing the Plan, the Task Force, Nancy Loehr of Florida Power, Michael Crawford, PPC staff, and Mayor J.J. Beyrouti conducted a public meeting where residents and business owners were presented the survey results, were given an opportunity to express additional ideas or concerns, and were shown the photo conceptual designs of various parts of the Town.

New Approach
 The planning effort for Redington Shores was the first time PPC staff used photo conceptual designs to illustrate what could be accomplished in the Town. Using a laptop computer and a projector, Council staff was able to display the Vision 2000 Task Force recommendations by overhead projection at the public meeting. Areas were first shown the way they look now, objects were then sequentially removed or added to highlight what each step in the project would accomplish, and finally the project or facility was depicted as it would look after the desired improvements were made.

Through the use of the photo conceptual designs, the Task Force was able to “illustrate” exactly how the recommendations would make the Town look. This process helped create strong support for the Plan and the recommendations it contained.




New PPC Members

 Councilmember Babe Wright

Councilmember Babe Wright has lived in the Tampa Bay area since moving here from West Virginia in 1962, and has lived in the City of Oldsmar for the past twenty years. She has one daughter, Lisa, who lives in Tampa. She has “retired” once, but is currently the manager of the Oldsmar Flea Market, and maintains her real-estate brokerage license. Councilmember Wright began her public service career with the City of Oldsmar Code Enforcement Board, and was elected to the City Council in March, 1998.

Commissioner Ed Hooper

Commissioner Ed Hooper has lived in Pinellas County for 26 years, 25 of those years as a resident of the City of Clearwater. Commissioner Hooper attended St. Petersburg Junior College where he studied Fire Science and Emergency Medicine. This education was used by Commissioner Hooper in his work with the City of Clearwater Fire Department, starting in 1972 as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and paramedic. In 1981 he was promoted to Fire Lieutenant. Commissioner Hooper is now retired from the Fire Department and has been serving on the Clearwater City Commission since April 4, 1996, currently serving as Vice-Mayor. He has also served four years as a volunteer for the Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation; is a member of the Board of Directors of the Long Center; the Board of Directors of the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project; the Board of Directors of the Jolley Trolley Transportation, Inc.; and serves as an ex-officio member of the City's Downtown Development Board.

Commissioner Janet Henderson

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Commissioner Henderson moved to Dunedin by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 12 years ago. She was recently married to Phil Henderson, past chairman of the Clearwater Chamber and currently Chairman of Jazz Holiday Foundation. An Elmhurst College graduate with a degree in Accounting, Commissioner Henderson also earned her real-estate brokers license from the State of Florida and is a commercial realtor with the firm of Klein and Heuchan, Inc. in Clearwater. Commissioner Henderson was elected to the City of Dunedin City Commission in March of 1997. Additional commitments include serving as the City Liaison to the Pinellas County School Board, and service on the Board of Ruth Eckerd Hall.



Featured Pinellas Planning Council Member: Karen M. Brayboy

Though not a native of Florida, Commissioner Karen Brayboy has lived here most of her life. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, she moved to Plant City, Florida, with her family when she was ten months old, where she lived until she left to attend East Carolina University before returning to Florida.

Professional Experience
 After working for “someone else” for ten years, Commissioner Brayboy opened her own stockbrokerage and investment firm in 1992. In addition to the stockbrokerage and investment firm, she and her husband own a health insurance and employee benefit insurance firm.

Political Career
 Elected to her first political office with the City of Tarpon Springs Commission in 1994, Commissioner Brayboy did not want to focus only on the City, but wanted to make a strong effort to become involved in issues outside of the City. Through the Pinellas Planning Council she has been able to do just that. Her efforts were recognized by the Council as they elected her Chairman earlier this year. In addition to her duties as Chairman, she has served as Mayor Pro Tem twice for the City of Tarpon Springs. Her first term was in 1994, and she will finish her last term as Mayor Pro Tem in March of 1999.

PPC Perspective
 This has been a particularly interesting year for the Chairman of the Council because of issues raised concerning the local bill addressing the annexation of enclaves and discussions with the Charter Review Commission. Commissioner Brayboy believes that the Charter Review Commission process has made the Council more aware of the importance of its multiple functions, particularly in relationship to the needs of the smaller municipalities, and has served to suggest the need to explore ways in which the Council can do its job better. “It is always healthy to look back on where you have been and why, and look forward to where you want to go and how you can do your job better.”

Commissioner Brayboy believes that the five main tenets of the Council's Mission Statement, which include:

sum up what the Council is all about. She hopes that this and future Councils will continue the efforts to provide for improved intergovernmental coordination and overall direction for Pinellas County as a whole.

Personal Side
 Commissioner Brayboy and her husband, Joe Part, have one son, Brandon, who is sixteen and lives at home. Her hobbies include reading for pleasure (other than business or government related) and gardening. She looks forward to having more time for personal and business interests upon completion of her current term as City Commissioner.


The Pinellas Planning Council
  • Commissioner Karen Brayboy
    Chairman - Tarpon Springs
  • Councilmember Bob Kersteen
    Vice-Chairman - St. Petersburg
  • Mayor Thomas De Cesare
    Secretary - Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island
  • Councilmember Chuck Williams
    Interim Treasurer - Pinellas Park
  • Mayor W. David Coyner
    Belleair Bluffs, Belleair, Gulfport, Kenneth City, Seminole, South Pasadena
  • Barbara J. Crockett
    Pinellas County School District
  • Commissioner Jean Halvorsen
    Largo
  • Commissioner Janet Henderson
    Dunedin
  • Commissioner Ed Hooper
    Clearwater
  • Mayor George M. Jirotka
    Belleair Shore, Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores
  • Commissioner Nadine Nickeson
    Safety Harbor
  • Commissioner Robert B. Stewart
    Pinellas County Board of Commissioners
  • Councilmember Babe Wright
    Oldsmar

The mission of the PPC is to establish a representative forum for countywide planning that provides overall policy direction, plan consistency, interagency coordination, and technical assistance in furtherance of a coherent, efficient and effective countywide planning process.



The Countywide Planning Authority
  • Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd, Chairman
  • Commissioner Steven M. Seibert, Vice-Chairman
  • Commissioner Calvin D. Harris
  • Commissioner Sallie Parks
  • Commissioner Robert B. Stewart

The role of the Board of County Commissioners, acting in their capacity as the Countywide Planning Authority, is that of final decision maker in the adoption and administration of the Countywide Plan.


The Planners Advisory Committee
  • Mike Taylor, Chairman - Gulfport
  • David Goodwin, Vice-Chairman - St. Petersburg
  • Chris Brimo - St. Pete Beach
  • Gina Clayton - Indian Rocks Beach
  • Walter Fufidio - Tarpon Springs
  • Sandy Glatthorn - Clearwater
  • Ric Goss - Largo
  • Robert Ironsmith - Dunedin
  • Jim Miller - Pinellas County School District
  • Ron Pianta - Safety Harbor
  • Tom Shevlin - Pinellas Park
  • Brian Smith - Pinellas County
  • Nick Staszko - Oldsmar

The Planners Advisory Committee is a countywide technical forum that is an additional source of professional input to the Council's decision-making process, assisting in the review of materials that are presented to the Council.



Hearing and Meeting Schedule
Planners Advisory
Committee		 Pinellas Planning
Council		 Countywide Planning
Authority
  • August (No Meeting)
  • September 16, 1998
  • October 21, 1998
  • November 18
  • August 11, 1998
  • September 1, 1998
  • October 6, 1998
  • November 3, 1998
  • August (No Meeting)
  • September 8, 1998
  • October 12, 1998
  • November 9, 1998