May 6, 2008 – County Commissioners Meeting Update

The following items were discussed during the Tuesday, May 6, Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Anyone for a Promenade?
Item #2a – Public Hearing - APPROVED

Clearwater plans to construct a pedestrian pier at the end of Cleveland Street, at the northeast end of the Memorial Causeway Bridge, in Clearwater Harbor. The 200-foot-long structure, to be called The Promenade, would be built on existing pilings from the old bridge.

Contact: Will Davis, Director of Environmental Management (727) 464-4635

Oldsmar requests land use change
Item #5b – Public Hearing - APPROVED

Oldsmar requested approval on a 14-acre proposal that includes two land use changes on vacant property at the corner of S.R. 580 and St. Clair Avenue. One request increases the density of 11.7 acres from residential urban to residential medium, allowing 15 residential units per acre. The other request changes an adjoining 2.3 acres, located along S.R. 580, from residential urban to residential office general, which allows a mixed use of office and/or residential units. There is a third parcel, comprised of 10 acres along the water. In order for the overall project to be compatible with the West Oldsmar area, this third property would remain residential urban, which has a low density of 7.5 units per acre.

Contact: Brian Smith, Director of Planning (727) 464-8200

David Healey, Executive Director of the Pinellas Planning Council (727) 464-8250

Radio upgrades continue
Item #24 - APPROVED

Three primary approvals are a part of an ongoing process to upgrade the county radio system:

• The replacement of the old system with one that has different frequencies will cost $6.5 million, paid by T-Mobile. The Federal Communications Commission auctioned the existing frequencies to T-mobile, who is obligated to relocate the equipment to a new frequency band and pay for it.
• The establishment of a microwave loop to enable the Utilities Department to receive video and data from remote sites, such as sewer lift stations, pumps and other devices that require 24-hour monitoring and carry the information back to the Utilities control center. Utilities will cover the $3.5 million cost.
• The replacement of the pager system used at the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center. The system is 16 years old and parts are no longer being manufactured or supported by the manufacturer. The pager system is one of the critical methods of notifying first responders of emergencies. This upgrade costs $420,000.

This work is all part of a contract with Motorola that was competitively awarded in 1988 and renewed in 1995. It is funded through revenues from the moving violation surcharge, grant funds and Penny for Pinellas.

Contact: Dick Williams, Director of Emergency Communications (727) 464-3835

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