Our Local Governments in 2025

^{Are We Asking Too Little of Our Elected Officials?}

In the cities of St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach, our elected officials play a pivotal role in shaping the future and well-being of our communities. More than just figures of authority, privilege, and honor. These elected officials are entrusted with the vital task of representing the interests of their constituents, making informed decisions, and steering our cities toward prosperity.

Our elected representatives manage annual budgets in the tens of millions of dollars, much of which comes from property taxes. Shouldn’t we have higher expectations of service, transparency, and engagement from our local elected officials?

Why Formulate Expectations?

At the heart of effective governance lies clarity and accountability. By clearly outlining the responsibilities of our elected representatives in City Hall, we ensure that they understand the scope of their duties and the expectations placed upon them by those they serve – their tax-paying constituents. This helps define their role and sets a standard against which their performance can be measured.

The Power of Metrics

Metrics, or measurable objectives, serve as our compass in navigating the success of our city’s elected officials. Metrics provide tangible criteria against which we can assess our commissioners’ performance objectively. Whether responding to resident concerns within a specified timeframe or achieving milestones in community engagement, these metrics offer transparency, which we can use to hold our municipal representatives accountable for their actions and decisions.

Here is a comprehensive framework for our elected officials in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach. It proposes their duties and responsibilities, emphasizing measurable objectives and performance-tracking metrics. This approach aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and constituent engagement while ensuring our elected representatives are focused on achieving clear goals and are accountable to, We the People.

Responsibilities and Expectations

With this list of five simple expectations, we hope to help establish a new standard for performance and accountability in our communities. What do you think? Feedback is always requested!

1. Solicit and Respond to Residents’ Concerns: As an elected official, your actions in soliciting and promptly responding to residents’ concerns and inquiries significantly impact our community. The value of these concerns cannot be overstated, as addressing them promptly ensures that they are heard and makes your constituents feel valued and integral to our community.

   • Objective 1: Respond to at least 90% of residents’ concerns and inquiries within five business days – respond via email or text.

   • Objective 2: Track the percentage of constituent concerns resolved within 30 days.

2. Stay Informed and Knowledgeable: Be aware of and possess factual knowledge of important issues that affect or may affect the community. Regularly asking residents to identify the issues they think need consideration is an important part of this responsibility.

   • Objective 1: Attend at least four community events or meetings annually to stay updated on current issues and gather resident input.

   • Objective 2: Maintain a list of issues brought forth by your constituents and seek the community’s feedback to prioritize the list accurately.

3. Frequent Communication and Engagement: Develop a comprehensive communication system to keep residents informed and engaged on important issues. This system should use a variety of channels, including:

   • Objective 1: Publish a monthly newsletter (or include comments for your constituents in the City’s newsletter) or update constituents via email or the city website, summarizing key issues, ideas, and recommendations.

   • Objective 2: Establish and maintain a community bulletin board on the city website, updated weekly with new information and resident concerns.

   • Objective 3: Support government transparency by tracking these metrics and publishing updates regularly.

4. Seek Community Input and Foster Leadership: Continually seek community input concerning important and pertinent issues through various channels, including surveys, meetings, and direct outreach.

   • Objective 1: Conduct at least two community surveys annually to gather resident feedback on key issues.

   • Objective 2: Foster active resident participation by organizing at least three annual leadership workshops or town hall meetings. These events will encourage residents to become involved in community affairs and develop leadership skills.

   • Objective 3: Track constituent satisfaction through surveys and other feedback mechanisms, such as complaint forms and hotlines. Analyze the data collected to identify areas for improvement and ensure city services meet the community's needs. Regularly report these findings to the public to demonstrate transparency and accountability.

5. Research, Communicate, and Report: Identify and research issues, then communicate these to residents to obtain feedback and build consensus.

   • Objective 1: For each major issue, prepare a comprehensive report within 30 days of its identification and distribute it to residents for feedback within 15 days.

   • Objective 2: City Commissioners should schedule at least two open meetings annually, and Mayors should hold one open meeting in each city district annually, ensuring each district has an opportunity for direct dialogue.

   • Objective 3: Develop and disseminate quarterly or biannual written reports describing all matters you have been involved with. Explain the challenges, your position, and recommendations based on your research, and detail whom you have consulted with regarding each issue.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to evolve and grow, the importance of clear expectations and metric tracking in governance cannot be overstated. These practices uphold the integrity of our local government, empower our representatives to make informed decisions, and build a stronger, more vibrant community together.

In the weeks and months ahead, let us remain committed to transparency, accountability, and effective governance. Together, we can ensure that St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach continue flourishing as places we proudly call home.

Additional Suggestions

1. Transparency and Accountability: Maintain high transparency and accountability in all actions and decisions. Ensure that all communications and meetings are accessible to the public.

   • Objective: Post meeting minutes and decisions within five business days after each commission meeting on the city website.

2. Promote Community Events and Programs: Actively promote and participate in community events and programs to foster a sense of community and engagement.

   • Objective: Attend and actively participate in at least six major community events per year

3. Budget and Financial Oversight: Provide oversight and input on the city’s budget and financial matters, ensuring that funds are used effectively and in the community’s best interest.

   • Objective: Review and provide feedback on the city's budget within 30 days of its proposal, ensuring a transparent review process.

4. Advocate for the Community: Advocate for the community’s needs and interests at county, state, and federal levels, seeking resources and support as necessary. Possible topics include affordable housing, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

   • Objective: Submit at least two proposals or advocacy letters per year to local, state, or federal entities on behalf of the community’s needs.

Long-Term Goals and Performance Tracking

1. Tie Objectives to Long-Term Goals: Develop objectives that align with the city's long-term goals, such as improving infrastructure, increasing economic development, and enhancing public services.

2. Performance Tracking: Implement a system for tracking progress on objectives, including regular reviews and adjustments based on performance data. o Develop a Performance Tracking Dashboard:

3. Create a central online dashboard or document accessible to the public.

4. List each objective with its corresponding target and timeframe.

5. Include sections for data collection methods and progress updates. o Establish a Reporting Schedule:

6. Determine how often progress will be tracked and updated on the dashboard (e.g., monthly, quarterly).

7. Consider including quantitative data (e.g., number of surveys completed) and qualitative summaries (e.g., resident feedback on open meetings). o Performance Evaluation:

8. Schedule regular evaluations (e.g., annually) to assess overall performance.

9. Analyze data collected throughout the year to identify areas of success and areas for improvement.

10. Consider resident feedback alongside objective data for a holistic view.

11. This evaluation can inform future goal-setting and objective development.