St. Pete Beach City Commission Debates Infrastructure Projects

The St. Pete Beach City Commission’s recent meeting was dominated by discussions on a series of infrastructure projects, including the contentious Bo Casa Drive construction project and the replacement of dune walkovers damaged by Hurricane Ida. The commission also tackled the feasibility of relocating the Don CeSar boat ramp and the approval of proposals for the 29th Avenue seawall project. Public input featured prominently, with residents voicing concerns over community impact and safety.

During the meeting, the commission scrutinized the Bo Casa Drive construction project designed to improve pedestrian and traffic safety near schools. The project proposals included the introduction of traffic calming measures like reduced lane width, bicycle signalization striping, and a sizable 10-foot sidewalk. Public Works director, Mike Clark, highlighted the project’s alignment with city goals for pedestrian connectivity while commissioners requested more information on design cross-sections and public feedback integration.

Public comments reflected dissatisfaction with certain project facets, such as the 10-foot sidewalk and the $5 million expenditure, which was not universally supported. They noted that the design was a compromise between different interests. Discussion extended to the application of impervious materials in sidewalks, storm water drainage, and the selection of Florida native plants for landscaping.

The commission also evaluated the use of pervious material for road construction on Bay Street and El Centro, with the Public Works director explaining its successful water drainage capabilities despite maintenance requirements. The cost of the project, initially pegged at $3.5 million, escalated, and questions arose regarding the necessity of features such as 10-foot sidewalks and bike lanes. The engineer suggested postponing approval to address property impact and cost concerns.

A proposed road project, which involved widening sidewalks and removing bike lanes, sparked debate over the potential loss of a $1.5 million grant if delayed. Safety concerns were raised regarding e-bikes on sidewalks, the effectiveness of sharrows for cyclist safety, and maintaining bike lanes for safety and equity. Public opposition called for a re-engineering of the project to prioritize safety for all road users.

The replacement of dune walkovers was another focal point. The city engineer presented the plans, addressing cost, bidding, and construction process questions. The commission approved price proposals for the dune walkover replacements with CADC Construction Company for $183,500 and a services agreement with Villa Forte Construction for the 29th Avenue seawall project, amounting to $61,195.

The feasibility study for the Don CeSar boat ramp weighed two potential locations, considering costs, challenges, and community impact. Plans for a town hall meeting were made to gather more feedback before decision-making. Public comments highlighted safety issues with the current boat ramp and the ecological importance of the area, stressing the need for comprehensive consideration of the project’s implications.

Finally, the commission addressed concerns raised by a resident regarding the boat ramp at Egan Park, incidents observed, and user profiles. Discussions on summer commission meeting schedules, virtual participation guidelines, and upcoming workshops and reviews occupied the latter part of the meeting. The City Attorney requested a private meeting to discuss a legal settlement proposal, and the announcement of adjournment concluded the session.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Adrian Petrila
City Council Officials:
Karen Marriott, Nick Filtz, Betty Rzewnicki, Richard Lorenzen

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording