The meeting opened with a presentation from a representative of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, focusing on service animals and the ADA. The representative outlined the complexities of enforcing service animal policies on the beaches, emphasizing the need for public education regarding ADA regulations and the rights of service animals. Council members engaged in a question and answer session, seeking to clarify the approach to educating the public about service animals and the potential consequences for non-compliance.

In addition to the service animal presentation, a police sergeant reported on the issue of dogs on the beaches, noting fluctuations in calls regarding this concern. The sergeant highlighted that under the ADA, only one service animal is permitted per individual, and that misrepresenting a pet as a service animal constitutes a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by 30 hours of community service. The sergeant stated that the ADA does not specify a breed for service animals and that having multiple dogs does not meet the ADA’s definition of service animals. The council considered providing simplified fact sheets on the ADA to distribute to businesses and discussed the documentation and penalties for those violating city ordinances related to animals on the beach.

Another topic of discussion was the enforcement of ordinances related to personal fireworks on the beach. The council reaffirmed the use of existing ordinances, including the Leave No Trace ordinance, the Turtle Lighting ordinance, and the prohibition of open flames, to regulate personal fireworks. A public relations push was planned to inform residents about increased enforcement efforts, with violations potentially resulting in fines of almost $300. The council discussed utilizing variable message boards and leveraging the Beach cleanup crew to distribute information to enforce the fireworks ban. Concerns were raised about the practicality of confiscating fireworks and how the police force would manage enforcement. It was clarified that all cities are subject to the county’s fireworks ban, with exceptions made by the state for July 4th and New Year’s.

Legislative updates were provided by Representative Linda Cheney, who discussed the state’s recently signed balanced budget of $116.5 billion and efforts to maintain a strong bond rating by paying 25% of long-term debt. Cheney highlighted the refunding of the My Safe Florida Home program to assist residents with resiliency efforts and the initiation of the My Safe Florida Condo program for condominium buildings. A lookback study was also mentioned, aimed at assessing the time frame for residents to make property improvements within FEMA’s 50% Val cost of their depreciated home value, with findings due by December 1. Cheney encouraged communities to explore grant opportunities on the DEP website for projects related to water quality, stormwater, and land recreation, among others. She also noted the passage of the balloon release bill, which makes intentional balloon releases subject to a $150 fine as part of the litter statute. Additionally, Cheney discussed her involvement in legislation focused on water quality standards and grants, as well as strengthening vessel laws.

Other legislative matters included a bill that aligns Florida Statutes with federal statutes, allowing 16 to 18-year-olds to work beyond 30 hours a week with parental permission, and the sponsorship of a Jimmy Buffett license plate to benefit disaster recovery. The controversial topic of vacation rentals was also debated, with one member expressing opposition and requesting a veto. Representative Cheney was presented with a legislative appreciation award from the Florida League of Cities for her work on House Bill 49.

The meeting included city representatives sharing updates on local events and activities, such as beach cleanups and parades, and the council discussed the approval of renovations to the Clearwater Marina. Plans for the next meeting location in Belleair Beach were also set.