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The first question: Does it make sense financially to incorporate the area? A study checks.
By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 13, 2002
LEALMAN -- County commissioners got a good idea Tuesday what items will be included in a study to determine whether it makes financial sense for the Lealman area to become a city.
But they have no idea where those city limits might be.
Determining possible boundaries will be up to a steering committee of three people from the Lealman area -- two residents and one representing the fire district -- and three county officials.
One of those residents will be Ray Neri, head of the Lealman Community Association, which has spearheaded the drive toward cityhood. The other resident member will be chosen by Lealman residents.
That seemed to make the most sense, Pinellas County Administrator Steve Spratt said. The steering committee can look at which neighborhoods and communities logically belong together, then hold public meetings to decide which neighborhoods might be interested in joining the new city.
"Candidly, I think that (the proposed borders) will be some point of contention along the way," Spratt said.
It's possible that some would want to use the boundaries of the Lealman Fire District as the city limits, Spratt said. But then boundaries would overlap annexation planning areas that are dedicated to Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg and Kenneth City. Spratt said those cities also might object to a committee even studying their planning areas.
Annexations prompted Lealman's pursuit of cityhood.
Some neighbors, fed up with continued annexations into their unincorporated community, have advocated forming a city from the Lealman Special Fire Control District. The district is generally located between Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg from I-275 to Park Street. Kenneth City is in the middle of the area.
County commissioners last month approved a feasibility study, the first step toward incorporation. Spratt presented the study's outlines Tuesday to commissioners, who agreed that the study could begin immediately.
The study will address:
The financial impact on residents and property owners should they decide to incorporate.
Alternatives to incorporation in case Lealman residents decide not to become a city.
Spratt's outline specifies that the public must be involved in the study, including public meetings between the Lealman Community Association and the Lealman Fire Commission.
If community members decide to go ahead with incorporation, they'll have to decide what kind of government to have (city manager-council, for example) and how to provide services (contract with someone or have Lealman furnish them). Those decisions will not be made in the feasibility study. The only thing that will be determined is the possible cost and ability of the area to pay for it.
The work should take about 90 days and cost no more than $35,000, according to the proposal, and only if help from outside county offices is needed. It's more likely to cost about $20,000, with about half the costs absorbed by the current budgets of the Pinellas County Planning Department and the Pinellas Planning Council.
Information will be available on the county's Web site at www.co.pinellas.fl.us.