Citizen Beach This Week

• Mission: Our mission is to strengthen and unite our communities by delivering positive, community-driven journalism that highlights local heroes and fosters connections. We strive to be a trusted resource that encourages, uplifts and strengthens our neighborly bonds.

In the News This Week

I’ve captured all the key news impacting our beach communities this week, so you don’t miss anything important!

Treasure Island makes history with first African American female firefighter, Ashly Hubbard: "It's a reward that you can do it and you're able to possess certain stills to help somebody, to save somebody's life," she said. (ABC Action News)

St. Pete Beach’s iconic Don Cesar hotel is set to open this month. The Maritana Restaurant will temporarily serve as a three-meal-a-day dining venue. The Lobby Bar will operate as a coffee shop in the morning and transform into a cocktail bar in the evening. Elegant, Luxury Hotel in St. Pete Beach, FL | The Don CeSar

St. Pete Beach Mayor Adam Petrila and two city commissioners get testy with one another during meeting (Spectrum News 9).

Indian Rocks Beach Candidate Forum discusses important issues, including recovery from the hurricanes and several pending lawsuits on short-term rentals. (TBN Weekly)

Time’s Running Out to Apply for a Property Tax Refund: Lisa Robinson, District 2, St. Pete Beach City Commissioner: Friends & Neighbors, we only have until March 3, 2025 to apply for a property tax refund with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's office if you were impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. To apply, please visit: https://www.pcpao.gov/how-do-i/apply-for-property-tax-refund”

Reader Feedback

Talk to the Tortuga!

From MayLou (TI Resident): Hello, I very much enjoy your newsletter and appreciate all of the effort you put into it. I enjoy reading what is going on in our communities in regard to the efforts to rebuild our beautiful beach towns and small businesses. While I understand the frustration of the residents who have had challenges with getting permits approved for them to rebuild- I greatly appreciate accurate reporting of the challenges and issues- I don’t believe that federal politics should color the discussion. These issues are here in TI. Decisions are being made by officials of our communities. I’m sure FEMA has contributed to the delays and poor decisions being made. I just request we keep the discussion to our communities. I understand that as the writer of this newsletter you will report as you see fit. So this is only my request.

The Tortuga Responds:

MaryLou, thank you so much for your very kind email. Like you, I enjoy reading about local news and information without national politics impinging. It's refreshing. Even our local TV news always has segments on national events. It's one of the reasons I like being involved at the local level, because it doesn't matter what flavor of politics you prefer, we're just concerned about our local activities and events.

That said, I'll admit that on somewhat rare occasions, a little bit of the national flavor may slip in. Sort of like a Palmetto bug sneaking through a crack in the door. Going forward, I will be extra careful to stamp out such incursions immediately before they crawl onto the pages of Citizen Beach. 

I do very much appreciate that you read the newsletter and are kind enough to provide feedback. I'll publish your letter (and my response) in the next issue.

Thank you!  Carlos (aka, The Tortuga)

CITY DOGE? That said, I do think we can learn from events and issues outside of our local communities. For example, wouldn’t it be great to have a City-Level Department of Government Efficiency to root out waste? Did you know that Gov. DeSantis is pushing to eliminate property taxes? How will our municipalities pay for services without the property tax gravy train? Look for an article on this topic coming soon.

City Beach

Empowering our local communities through informed and active engagement to address local challenges and foster self-reliance.

Florida Law Cuts Local Residents’ Power Over Development

On June 28, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 718 into law, significantly reducing the ability of local residents in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, and beyond to influence land development. Effective July 1, 2023, SB 718 bans voter referenda and ballot initiatives on land development regulations, ending a key avenue for communities to approve or reject zoning changes, building projects, or annexations.

The law shifts power from residents to municipal boards, stripping away direct democracy on land use issues. Supporters argue it streamlines governance, avoiding delays that voter initiatives can cause—potentially benefiting developers in tourism-driven areas like Pinellas County’s beach towns. DeSantis, who signed the bill without fanfare, sees it as part of a broader push to prioritize economic growth over local resistance. Yet critics call it a setback for community input, noting that in places like Miami Beach, voters once blocked mega-projects. With SB 718, residents’ ability to shape their neighborhoods is curtailed, raising concerns about unchecked development favoring well-connected figures, like Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a DeSantis ally.

The law explicitly prohibits local governments from holding voter referenda on land development regulations. Instead, the decision-making power rests solely with the city’s elected legislative body—typically the city commission or council. When a developer submits a proposal requiring changes to zoning, land use, or other regulations, the city commission reviews it, holds public hearings (as required by Florida law), and votes on whether to approve or deny it. Residents can still attend these hearings, voice opinions, and lobby their commissioners, but they no longer have the ability to override or initiate a decision through a direct vote.

For these coastal municipalities, the loss of referenda means residents can no longer directly halt or greenlight projects altering their skylines or shorelines. As development pressures mount, SB 718 leaves local residents’ influence diminished, reliant solely on elected officials.

Take Action: Contact your city commissioners to voice concerns about local development plans. Attend public meetings to stay informed and push for transparency on how this law shapes your community’s future.

Boosting Local Control Over Housing in Coastal Communities

State Representative Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) has introduced House Bill 401 for the 2025 Florida legislative session, offering St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, and other communities a tool to protect their residential character. Filed ahead of the March 4, 2025, session and effective July 1, 2025, if passed, HB 401 empowers counties and municipalities to zone land for traditional single-family residential use while prohibiting “single-family hybrid housing”—a new category targeting properties owned by corporations or investors for rental purposes. For these coastal towns, this could mean fewer homes snapped up by big firms and more available for local families.

The bill responds to growing concerns about corporate landlords dominating housing markets, a trend stark in Pinellas County where tourism fuels demand. By allowing local governments to ban hybrid housing in designated areas, HB 401 aims to preserve neighborhoods for owner-occupants, not absentee investors. Rep. Jacques, representing District 59 near these beach communities, frames it as a way to maintain small-town charm and affordability for residents. In a region where the Tampa Bay Times reports 27,000 corporate-owned homes already exist, this could slow further encroachment, giving cities like Madeira Beach leverage to prioritize locals over Wall Street.

The upside is clear: more control for communities to shape their future, potentially easing competition for first-time buyers. However, there’s a catch—it doesn’t stop corporations from buying existing homes outright, only from designating them as rentals in restricted zones, per experts like Lei Wedge from USF. Small landlords (three or fewer properties) are exempt too, so rental shifts might persist. Still, it’s a step forward.

Take Action: If the state law is passed, remember to urge your city commissioners to use HB 401’s powers wisely—attend meetings and advocate for zones that keep housing in local hands.

Advocacy: Want to help your local government be more responsive, transparent and fiscally responsible? Join Protect St. Pete Beach, or Citizens’ Voice of Treasure Island. Other groups with shared interests: Florida Beaches for All,

Who Are My Elected Representatives?

• CITY: St. Pete Beach; Treasure Island; Madeira Beach; Redington Beach; North Redington Beach; Indian Shores.

• County & State: Florida Senate; Florida House of Representatives: County Commission - Search by Zip Code.

Community Beach

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Treasure Island Bounces Back with Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights

After a tough recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Treasure Island is hosting a vibrant “back to the beach” event on March 8-9. Combining sand sculptures and kite-flying, Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights celebrates resilience and community spirit at 11260 Gulf Blvd. Expect live music, vendors, food trucks, a massive sand sculpture symbolizing recovery, and a sky filled with colorful kites. Free to attend, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. both days. The city emphasizes the “&” in the title, reflecting Treasure Island’s essence: a beach and so much more—events, community, and strength.