Beaches notebook

By AMY WIMMER, KATHY SAUNDERS and SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 4, 2001

South Pasadena decides on tentative millage rate

SOUTH PASADENA -- The City Commission on Monday approved a tentative millage rate that would bring $35,000 more into city coffers this fiscal year.

The city's preliminary budget calls for spending $125,000 on a mural that would welcome passers-by at the Corey Causeway entrance. The budget also includes $47,000 for two new public works vehicles and $80,000 for drainage improvements, including the cost of videotaping drains to check their effectiveness.

City commissioners also hope to bury some utility lines along Sunset Drive between Albertson's and Galatea Garden, the city's newest park. That would cost about $100,000.

The tentative millage rate approved Monday is 1.5409, which means residents will pay $1.54 in city taxes for every $1,000 of taxable value.

Jim Graham, South Pasadena's finance director, said the city will collect $533,680 in ad valorem taxes next year, which makes up less than one-fifth of the total budget of $2.95-million.

The final millage rate will be established later this summer. - AMY WIMMER

Treasure Island

The first phase of downtown construction should be finished by July 17, City Manager Chuck Coward said. The initial work in the $600,000 beautification project, which began in April, includes the landscaping and construction of new walkways through downtown.

Contractors with Valley Crest of Orlando will add 338 personalized bricks to the walkways. The bricks, sold this year to local residents and businesses, contain personal messages and will be installed on both sides of downtown, but not in the center median.

"We didn't want people walking across traffic to look for their bricks," Coward said.

The second portion of the project, scheduled to begin in mid July, will include construction of a 50-foot clock tower and pavilion in the center of the downtown median and should take 10 to 12 weeks to build. - KATHY SAUNDERS

Redington Beach

If you would like to memorialize a loved one, Redington Beach suggests purchasing a bench for one of the town's five parks.

The 4- or 6-foot benches cost either $250 or $400 and are made of recycled materials. The locations for the benches include Beach Park on Gulf Boulevard, Town Park at Gulf Boulevard and 164th Avenue, Friendship Park on 164th Avenue across from Town Hall, the 161st Avenue Triangle, and the Fifth Street cul-de-sac.

Purchase forms are available at Town Hall, or residents may contact Peggy Akery at 392-8107 for more information. - SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

Belleair Beach

Australian pines, Washingtonian palms, Brazilian peppers and punk trees no longer would be welcome here, according to a proposed ordinance that sets planting standards around town.

The ordinance, which applies to both the city's low- and medium-density districts, identifies undesirable trees, prohibiting their replacement but not requiring their removal. The approved list includes 20 varieties of trees and plants such as live oaks, sweet gum and Southern red cedar.

Only palm trees could be planted within 30 feet of a shoreline or seawall, and existing trees would have to be trimmed so they do not obstruct waterfront views of adjacent property owners. The ordinance also would establish setback and minimum planting requirements.

The changes, unanimously approved by the City Council on the first reading Monday, is scheduled for final approval Aug. 6. - SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

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