Good morning! Welcome to Citizen Beach, the free local newsletter that highlights the best news and stories in the Gulf Beaches of southern Pinellas County — St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach — and Gulfport!
What’s hot this week: City Commission meetings in St. Pete Beach (SPB) and Treasure Island were fiery, but mostly peaceful this week as residents discussed noise issues in SPB and called for the resignation of a Treasure Island commissioner who was discovered to have anonymously posted online derogatory comments about residents.
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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!
Appointment by Temporary City Manager Criticized: In a Tampa Bay Letter to the Editor: Mark Hohe expresses concern over the abrupt hiring of Bobbie Shay Lee as Treasure Island’s Community Development Director, questioning the lack of transparency in the selection process and her qualifications compared to the highly experienced outgoing director, Kathryn Younkin. He argues that the decision made by the temporary City Manager should have been deferred to the incoming permanent manager, as Lee’s background in social work and intergovernmental affairs lacks the necessary education, credentials, and experience for the role.
Treasure Island Commission Meeting, Fox 13 Video, and on YouTube: “Treasure Island Vice Mayor faces resignation calls after anonymous Facebook posts.” Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez of Treasure Island is under fire for anonymously posting Facebook comments aimed at residents—comments she now admits to writing. At a contentious Treasure Island City Commission meeting on Tuesday, several residents called for the resignation of the Vice Mayor due to anonymous comments she had posted online, which targeted residents with personal insults, sparking heated debate over accountability and transparency.
In Treasure Island, “Divide deepens between commissioners and public during fiery meeting,” ABC Action News: “The coastal community is deeply divided, which has sparked infighting between elected leaders and members of the public. Tuesday evening, all of those pent-up feelings exploded during a commission meeting that left the mayor, John Doctor, embarrassed.”
Treasure Island Secures $1.5M Grant for Proposed Gulf Boulevard Facility, but Costs Raise Concerns: State Senator Nick DiCeglie has secured a $1.5 million state grant for Treasure Island to fund a new public safety facility on prime Gulf Boulevard real estate, adjacent to the current City Hall, according to Florida Politics. The proposed project, estimated to cost $12 million or more, would require at least $10.5 million in additional funding, likely through increased taxes or new municipal debt, adding to the city’s existing $5.75 million in City Hall debt, which costs taxpayers $640,000 annually to service. City Commissioners have yet to decide whether to pursue this new facility or upgrade the existing fire station for approximately $2 million, a more cost-effective option. With City Hall already underutilized, residents are urged to weigh in on this critical financial decision at upcoming Commission meetings.
St. Pete Beach commission approves live music at The Wharf, five nights a week. “I love live music, and I love the idea of The Wharf having live music, but the concern is the volume and interfering with folks that live out there,” said Commissioner Lisa Robinson, who ultimately voted against the proposal. The decision reflects the ongoing tension in St. Pete Beach between supporting local businesses and preserving the quiet atmosphere that attracts residents and tourists to the barrier island community. TBN Weekly.
An anonymous city worker from Treasure Island wrote a letter to ABC Action News on June 16, accusing tax-paying residents of “bullying” city employees through aggressive scrutiny at commission meetings, which the anonymous writer claims contributed to staff resignations since Hurricane Helene. Former Mayor Tyler Payne, who resigned in the midst of the hurricane recovery process last year, leaving the city and his constituents behind, voiced support for the anonymous letter. However, newly elected City Commissioner Chris Clark defended residents’ rights to demand accountability for the city’s abysmal post-hurricane response.
Fiery, but Mostly Peaceful
UPDATE: Small Town Treasure Island
In a citizen-led effort to manage the redevelopment of Treasure Island, including the creation of a thriving downtown area, residents are working together to maintain a height limit of six floors. At the same time, many commissioners say that a height of 11 floors is acceptable to them.
We will be holding an organizational meeting in three weeks (originally scheduled for this week, but postponed). We plan to create several subgroups to focus on different aspects of the issue.
Creating subgroups to address key issues for maintaining our small-town environment in Treasure Island is a strategic approach. The three areas we’ve identified—zoning changes, downtown renewal, and the environment—are strong starting points. Based on common priorities for small-town planning and community development, here are additional areas that are under consideration for subgroups, tailored to the community’s context as a coastal, tourism-driven city in Florida:
Infrastructure and Public Services: A subgroup could focus on assessing and improving essential infrastructure like roads, utilities, public transportation, and emergency services. For Treasure Island, this could include flood mitigation, beach access maintenance, and ensuring infrastructure supports both residents and tourists. This group could also explore public safety (e.g., police and fire services) and waste management to maintain a clean, welcoming environment for residents and visitors.
Community Engagement and Culture: Building a small-town feel requires strong community cohesion and unity. A subgroup could focus on fostering local events, festivals, or cultural initiatives that celebrate Treasure Island’s identity (e.g., beach-themed or historical events). They could also develop strategies to engage diverse groups—such as residents, seasonal visitors, and businesses—to ensure inclusivity and gather input on community needs.
Economic Development and Tourism: Given Treasure Island’s reliance on tourism, a subgroup could focus on balancing economic growth with maintaining a small-town vibe. This might involve supporting local businesses, regulating short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb), or promoting sustainable tourism that doesn’t overwhelm the community’s character. They could also explore incentives to help small businesses thrive in the downtown area.
Housing and Affordability: A subgroup could address housing challenges by ensuring a mix of affordable and market-rate options, thereby maintaining a diverse resident base. In Treasure Island, this might involve reviewing policies on vacation rentals versus long-term housing and ensuring zoning supports residential stability without pricing locals out.
Parks, Recreation, and Public Spaces: A subgroup could focus on enhancing green spaces, recreational facilities, and public amenities, such as parks, boardwalks, or community centers. For Treasure Island, this could include preserving beachfront areas, creating pedestrian-friendly spaces, or enhancing access to waterfront areas for residents.
Transportation and Mobility: A subgroup could explore walkability, bike paths, and parking solutions to maintain a small-town feel while accommodating visitors. In Treasure Island, this might include addressing traffic congestion during peak tourist seasons or improving connectivity between neighborhoods and the downtown area.
These suggestions align with common priorities for small-town planning, especially in a coastal community like Treasure Island, where balancing growth, tourism, and local character is key.
Please send your thoughts, comments, and ideas to Carlos Miro at [email protected].
Growth? Yes! But scaled to keep our small-town environment? Definitely!
Pave Over Paradise
Downtown Development: A Parking Lot
On Thursday, the TI P&Z Board approved expanding the parking lot downtown
They Paved Paradise (Treasure Island Parody)
To the tune of “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
With a shiny new sign, some meters, and a concrete spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
They tore down our shops, built a big asphalt plain
Right by our city park and the beach, where the sunsets remain
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
Hey, planners, planners, hear what the people say now
Give us cafes and charm, not more cars by the bay now
Please!
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
Late last night, I heard the commission cheer
And a big yellow bulldozer took our small-town feel
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
I said, don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop, ooh, bop-bop-bop-bop)
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
Beach Developer Envy: 42-Story Tower
From St. Pete Rising comes the news that a 42-story luxury condo tower is set to open its doors to residents in St. Petersburg in October, located at 235 1st Avenue South. Kolter, the developer, recently announced plans for a 162-unit condominium development on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach. Ricardo Nunez, Development Executive at Kolter, hinted that additional condominium developments in the region are likely.
Thank you!
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