C.O.N.A. of South Pinellas County

Let us discuss with due respect-

Oct 18, 2004

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Neighbors:

St. Petersburg has a long tradition of open process decision making. That is the surest way to bring consensus. When we do things in a closed manner, without public input, it leads to controversy and hard feelings.

We are in the midst of the greatest transition of our downtown in eighty years. It is important, as we make these decisions, that the public be allowed to have input. Too often, our current process is to present decisions for approval with little or no time for public participation. If we do have an open process, at the end, regardless of what we decide to do, the public will be supportive because the process was open.

We are making decades long decisions. We should take the time upfront to provide for public input on decisions that will impact or City for years to come.

On another note, the CONA Leadership Planning Committee is preparing for the 2005 program. This will be the 13th years for this highly successful program. Class size is limited and applications must be returned by November 30th, 2004. For more information, contact Ingid Comberg at (727) 821-2192

Sincerely,

Karl Nurse
President, CONA


ON THE AGENDA:

>Land Development Regulations

>Dali Museum Proposal

>Utility Blight Resolution

>CONA Leadership Program of 2005 Application form
attached


CONA BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, October 20th at:
The SUNSHINE CENTER, 330 5th St. N.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.


PARTNERSHIP NOTES
Neighborhood Partnership Office
Susan P. Ajoc, AICP, Director
Neighborhood Partnership Program
City of St. Petersburg
P.O. Box 2842 St. Petersburg, FL 33731-2842
Phone: (727) 892-5141 Fax: (727) 893-5323
Email: Susan.Ajoc@stpete.org

Neighborhood Partnership Grants FY 2005

Special thanks to Maureen Eppley, Greater Woodlawn, and Vera Filipelli, Barcley Estates, for participating on the Grants Review Team for FY 2005. Out of the 21 applications, 13 proposals have been forwarded for review and final approval by City Council.

Mayor's Neighborhood Partnership
Awards Social

The annual awards celebration will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. in City Hall. Additional information will be included in the invitations.


BULK MAIL PERMIT LIST
CONA?’s bulk mail permit may be used by member neighborhood associations. By sharing the same permit, associations can mail their newsletters at a lower cost without having to pay for their own permit. To defray the cost of the permit, we ask that neighborhoods using the CONA permit pay an annual fee of $15.00.

Our records indicate that the following neighborhoods are currently using the bulk mail permit. If your neighborhood is not on this list, and you wish to use the permit, please contact Libby Steele at 867-6196

?· Bahama Shores
?· Broadwater
?· Central Oak Park
?· Disston Heights
?· Downtown
?· Greater Pinellas Point
?· Greater Woodlawn
?· Jungle Terrace
?· Lakewood
?· Northeast Park
?· Ponce De Leon
?· Shore Acres


RESOLUTION (proposed)

by CONA (COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS) OF ST. PETERSBURG

REQUIRING THAT ALL UTILITIES MOVE WIRING CURRENTLY OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND CONDUITS IN THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME (statewide within two decades)

September, 2004

WHEREAS the huge suffering by Floridians during recent severe weather conditions has been compounded by loss of electricity, and

WHEREAS for several weeks massive numbers of Floridians were unable to begin rebuilding, and suffered significant health complications, due to absence of electricity, and

WHEREAS vast sums have been expended already repairing and replacing power equipment, with no assurance it won?’t have to be done all over again next year, and

WHEREAS many revitalization experts agree that investing in improving the appearance of traditional commercial areas is one of the best ways to attract new business and stimulate economic development. Beauty benefits business, and minimizing the visual impact of utilities can be a major strategy to beautify and revitalize an area and

WHEREAS overhead wires and supporting poles endanger people and wildlife, e.g:
1. Accidentally touching a live wire kills
people;
2. Med-evac helicopters in some locations can?’t
pick up those in need of transport because of
overhead wires;
3. Pinellas County firefighters recently had to
watch a motorist burn to death because when
he struck a power pole live wires fell on his
car, and power was not turned off in time to
help him;
4. Many car accidents which otherwise might not
be fatal are so because of striking a power
pole;
5. Preservatives in poles give off toxins;
6. Magnificent endangered birds (such as
whooping cranes) die by flying into overhead
wires;
7. Property values are depressed by unsightly
poles and lines;

WE THEREFORE URGE
THE GOVERNOR,
STATE LEGISLATURE,
COUNTY COMMISSION,
CITY COUNCIL,
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
to enact and execute and vigorously support legislation requiring that all Florida utilities presently using overhead transmission services devise, within one year, a plan for getting all such services underground within two decades or sooner.

WE FURTHER URGE
>that a task force of independent experts be commissioned to study this issue within a year, to determine best time-frame and methods of meeting the costs of this effort, and
>that a plan for meeting these costs shall be created including but not limited to tax benefits, FEMA and other grants, and TEMPORARY (while the project is underway) rate increases.

Resolution Sponsored by:
Eileen O?’Sullivan and Phillip Whysong


Riviera Bay and Fossil Park Host Police & Fire Appreciation Picnic
By David Hoover

The Riviera Bay Civic Association and Fossil Park had our "Police and Fire Hero Appreciation-Hurricane Relief-Neighborhood Picnic" on Oct 2nd. This event had been rescheduled from Sept 11 because of approaching hurricanes.
Our event was a tremendous success, attended by over 100 members of our associations as well as State Representative Farkas, Mayor Baker, Councilmen Bryan and Foster, Susan Ajoc, and numerous Police and Fire Fighters. We had the Fossil Park pool opened just for us, (sponsored by Paramount Pools) a Dunking Booth, (we dunked the Mayor's daughter) games for everyone, lots of fun, and great food, mostly donated by area businesses. I'd like to thank Babalus, Ale House, Papa Johns, Winghouse, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Hooters, and Kash & Karry for all their very generous food and/or drink donations. Any food left over was donated to the Beacon House, a St Pete homeless shelter on Central Ave and 21st. They were happy to have whatever we had left over. I urge other neighborhoods to donate there also whenever they have surplus food after an event.
I also had many items donated for a Raffle and Auction to benefit Florida Hurricane victims. I'd like to thank West Marine, Paramount Pools, The Devil Rays, Cody's Roadhouse, Newk's Bait and Tackle, Fergs, Bob Lees Tire Co, Marbo's, Applebees, J.CON Salon, Fred Flemings, Mane Concern Salon, A Beautiful Tan, Howard Chiropractic Center, Urshala's Salon, Beef O'Bradys, and Al & Missy Martino, for all their generous donated Gift Certificates or items to raffle or auction.
Our Raffle and Auction raised $609.00 total. The entire amount will be donated to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund.
Hopefully, this "Police and Fire Hero Appreciation-Hurricane Relief-Neighborhood Picnic will become an annual event and will not be needed for future hurricane victims.


CONA TO ADDRESS LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS Add
By Bob Jeffery
OCTOBER?’S MEETING TOPIC

The City, with the assistance of many of CONA and neighborhood representatives, has been rewriting the City?’s Land Development Regulations (LDR?’s) to better address development within the City. The purpose of October?’s meeting is to provide a brief overview of the proposed Land Development Regulations LDR?’s. City staff will share with you several key changes in the proposed regulations and provide the opportunity for you to ask questions. For example, under the new code, what will happen to the multi-family apartment building located within your single family neighborhood? Will your neighbor be able to build a ?“MAC-MANSION?” next door to you? Will the commercial businesses abutting your neighborhood be able to expand into our neighborhood? These and many other questions will be answered at the CONA meeting this month.

WHAT DO LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS DO?
LDR?’s guide all built development and redevelopment within the City. They regulate building and site uses, occupancy loads, parking standards, building sizes and in some cases design standards. More generically, they are responsible for creating the overall framework of the City and directing the urban form of our community.

WHY NEW LDR?’s?
Well-developed Cities are typically guided by long-range plans developed every several decades. It is far reaching community plans that have produced amenities for our City such as our waterfront park system, our generous girded roadway system, and a vibrant downtown that provides St. Petersburg with a rich quality of life. St. Petersburg?’s planning efforts began with the John Nolen Plans of the 1920?’s, the Bartholomew Plan of the 1940?’s, the City Wide Conceptual Plan of the 1970?’s, and the Vision 2020 plan adopted in 2002. Vision 2020 outlines many goals and objectives for the next several decades which aim to protect and enhance St. Petersburg?’s quality of life. Much of the recommendations of the Vision 2020 plan will be implemented through adjusting our Land Development Regulations (LDR?’s).

The Proposed LDR?’s will recognize the built out character of our City. The regulations will reinforce the traditional patterns of development where the City was built out prior to World War II, and the suburban pattern of our City created after the 1940?’s. The LDR?’s will assist in creating practical, quality development and redevelopment, that is predictable and consistent with the goals of the citizenry, as well as practical for the development community.

Within the Commercial Corridors, Suburban district there are three types of sites. These include, small sites or out parcels of an acre or less, medium sized sites of several acres or large sites typically developed by a big box retailer. Each of these sites has differing needs based on the size of the lot. For this reason, different setbacks, locations of parking and retention and design criteria are recognized to provide for better development.



CONA BOARD OF DIRECTOR?’S MEETING MINUTES

The Sunshine Multi-Service Center September 15, 2004

First Vice President Steve Plice called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
?˜ Steve led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag.
> Moved, (Whysong), to accept the August Minutes as published. [Approved]
?˜ Treasurer Libby Steele reported a current balance of $1,900.25. She also announced that our storm relief collection netted $600.00.
> Moved, (Warren), to accept Treasurer?’s Report. [Approved]
?˜ After recognizing our distinguished guests, Councilman Jay Lasita, and Judicial Candidate Jack Day Steve introduced our format for a classic forensic debate. The five questions approved by City Council for the November elections ballot, [printed listings were distributed], will be addressed by guest contenders Councilman John Bryant, (speaking in favor), and Tim Baker, President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, (speaking as opposed). Tom Killian, (Jungle Terrace), served as timekeeper.
?˜ The debaters each addressed the five ballot questions, making a 4 minute statement, (pro or con), then followed up with three minute challenging rebuttals.
?˜ Joining the panel discussion were Rick Mussett, (City Development Planning), and Edward Montanari, (Albert Whitted Airport Advisory Committee). They provided details of the city plans for developing the downtown waterfront area including the long term plans for the airport. Each of the panelists responded to questions from the floor.
?˜ Steve Plice reminded us of the upcoming City Council hearing addressing the issue of street vendor regulatory ordinances. He urged all residents to attend.

New Business:
> Moved, (O`Sullivan), CONA supports the efforts of our communities to provide for underground electric power distribution wherever possible. [Approved]
?˜ It was noted that there is a need for volunteers to serve on our Nominating Committee.
?˜ The CONA Leadership Class for 2005 is now accepting applications for the 40 available seats in this year?’s program

Chairman Steve Plice announced adjournment at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Conrad Weiser, Secretary