Grant funds skate park for Indian Rocks Beach

By ANDREW MEACHAM, TAMY WIMMER and SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 8, 2001

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- By early next year, Indian Rocks Beach will become the third beach city with a skate park, thanks to a grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. The $63,750 grant amounts to about three-quarters of the estimated $85,000 cost for the park, to be located in Kolb Park, across the street from City Hall and east of Campalong Field.

Indian Shores

City officials are negotiating with the Federal Emergency Management Administration over flood elevations, a determination that can affect homeowner's insurance rates.

"Our big rub with FEMA is over wave elevations," said building official Mike Nadeau. According to FEMA specifications from the late 1990s, the base of most homes in Indian Shores must be either 10 or 11 feet above mean sea level, or the average median high tide. A committee from the Barrier Islands Government Council has challenged FEMA's practice of factoring in wave height to sea-level calculations. The council contends that existing instruments already measure wave height. Two to three feet of minimum elevation -- measured from "the bottom of the lowest supporting beam of the first livable floor" -- hang in the balance, Nadeau said.

Nadeau said insurance rates will not increase for previously acceptable homes, so long as homeowners do not lapse on their payments.

Gulfport

The City Council hopes its new Brazilian pepper plan will set an example for homeowners citywide.

The council approved a Brazilian pepper ordinance that calls for eliminating the non-native trees on city property. The ordinance does not extend to city rights-of-way and alleys, but Brazilian peppers located in city parks or other properties will be removed.

Brazilian pepper, a large evergreen shrub tree with thick branches, can grow from 10 to 40 feet tall. It grows small bright-red berries and yellow-white flowers in the fall and resembles holly.

The trees, which are hard to eliminate. If left alone, they can choke out mangroves or other native plants.

Childs Park pool

ST. PETERSBURG -- After years of lobbying, residents of St. Petersburg's Childs Park area finally will have a neighborhood pool next summer. It will be located at the southeast corner of Childs Park at 4301 13th Ave. S, which is just six blocks east of Gulfport.

The multipurpose pool, scheduled to begin construction in October, will include facilities for every water interest -- whether socializing, performing water aerobics, diving, swimming Olympic 25-meter laps, or playing on slides.

South Pasadena

Two projects dreamed up in a 1999 "visioning" workshop may soon swing into action. The city wants to erect a two-sided mural announcing South Pasadena against a backdrop of dolphins, sailboats and sunny skies in the median just north of Shore Drive and Pasadena Avenue. The mural would use different types of stone to create a mosaic effect. The city is prepared to spend more than $100,000 to beautify the area, which planners consider the heart of the business district.

The second project spruces up the vacant plot at 1400 Pasadena Ave. S, the only undeveloped plot along the avenue and future site of Gigi's Italian Restaurant. The restaurant is moving from its current location in a shopping center at 6852 Gulfport Blvd. The city plans to expand 200 feet of sidewalk in front of the restaurant, from 7 feet to 17 feet wide, as well as plant trees and install benches.

North Redington Beach

Beach-going residents who want to drive to and park at North Redington Beach's Gulf-front park need to purchase a parking pass at town hall.

The town's beach park is located next to the Ambassador condominium on Gulf Boulevard. Facilities include a freshwater shower and shaded pavilion.

The parking passes cost $1.50 for the year and are available only to town residents and property owners. The passes must be affixed to the rear car window and are transferable between family cars.

Madeira Beach park

The new Causeway Shoreline Restoration Park at the base of the Tom Stuart Causeway may get a major facelift if the city is successful in its latest attempt to win grant funds.

Tuesday, the commission authorized seeking a $150,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to help fund installation of picnic shelters, a fishing pier, an observation pier and playground at the park. City Manager Mike Bonfield suggested the city also might consider building public restrooms at the site.

Belleair Beach

A county-level committee that will help determine the design of a new high-rise bridge connecting Belleair Beach and Belleair Bluffs will include city representatives, the City Council learned Monday.

"We are also pleased to be a part of several beach communities that follow projects of common interest," Presiding Officer Charles Pollick said. "Over the years, the City of Belleair Beach has become synonymous with tranquility and unsurpassed residential living standards. We are proud of the government established by early residents and have continued to strive to make Belleair Beach a place to raise a family or enjoy a peaceful and safe retirement."

Pollick said the city also will "continue to support beach renourishment to assure our citizens that we take such issues seriously at Belleair Beach City Hall."

Madeira Beach signs

Nine years ago, businesses in Madeira Beach were given seven years to make their signs comply with then newly adopted county and city codes.

Tuesday, the commission said, in effect, forget about it. Instead, signs that complied with codes before the 1992 sign ordinance will be grandfathered. Qualifying businesses will not be required to remove or replace their signs.

Madeira Beach taxes

Madeira Beach property tax rates for 2001-2002 will remain unchanged for the sixth year in a row.

The tentative millage rate -- which by law cannot be increased in final budget deliberations -- was set at 2.2 mills by the City Commission Tuesday.

The millage rate means that a home with a taxable assessed valuation of $100,000 would pay $220 in city property taxes next year.

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