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Tag: Josh Rojas

  • Pinellas County Film Commission hopes to add more films

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas County officials appointed Film Commissioner Dave Caputo to his post in October, and he is working to increase the number of films that represent the area for 2026.

    He currently administers an incentive program which saw a major downturn in projects after last year’s hurricanes but is expected to bounce back in 2026, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dave Caputo began his tenure as the Pinellas County Film Commissioner last month

    • Caputo has more than 30 years of experience in the media production industry

    • The film incentive program saw a major downturn in projects after last year’s hurricanes, with only four qualifying for funds

    • It’s expected to bounce back in fiscal year 2026, with 15 projects scheduled 


    “The incentive program is to make sure that we’re showing off the beautiful locations in Pinellas County,” said Caputo. “This is really a tourism story.”

    Caputo began his tenure as film commissioner in October. Caputo moved to Pinellas County in 2018 and has more than 30 years of experience in the media production industry.

    “Most of my work has been in live television and pre-production television,” he said. “Good part of my crew was actually in on-location work.” 

    In fiscal year 2025, only four projects qualified for film incentive funds, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. Compare that to 2024, where there were 10. Caputo said 2026 looks much stronger, with 15 projects expected to qualify.

    “We’ve seen a huge uptick in applications for our screen production incentive program, as well as permit applications,” he said. “We’re looking forward to even more.”

    Only six counties in Florida have a film incentive program. There is no statewide program. The 2026 budget for Pinellas County’s film incentive program is $1.025 million. Film projects that show off the area can get up to a 20 percent rebate on their total expenses.

    “Our screen production incentive program has a base incentive of 10 percent,” said Caputo. “There’s an additional 10 percent uplift if we can have a determination that there is a significant amount of tourism impact from the production as well as obvious landmarks.”

    Litewave Media founder Christian Cashmir said that having a film incentive program has been very important for the industry. Cashmir qualified for incentive funds for the movie Mother Nature and the Doomsday Prepper, which was released earlier this year.

    “Having a film commissioner that’s driving business here and cares about the filmmaking community is so essential,” he said. “We found that just meeting with Dave, he really has a great vision for this area and we’re excited to have him here.” 

    Last year, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan filmed scenes with actor John Cena at the Litewave studios in St. Petersburg for the hit Apple TV show Pluribus, according to Cashmir. The episode aired earlier this month.

    “For Pluribus we did one day of prep and one day of filming here on the green screen in the studio,” he said. “We had a blast. Vince was here himself with a lot of the top key cast and crew.”

    Caputo said his goal is to build the St. Pete-Clearwater brand as a filming destination.

    “I’m very excited to be a part of the Visit St Pete-Clearwater team and really looking forward to kind of telling the story of Pinellas County,” he said. “Also getting out there and creating a lot more awareness for our incentive program.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Pete invests additional $1M for Shore Acres pump station

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg city council approved a state grant agreement last Thursday to invest an additional $1 million for a pump station in the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg was awarded a $1 million matching state grant for a pump station in Shore Acres

    • The pump station is part of a much larger $33M flood mitigation project 

    • Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026

    • State Rep. Lindsay Cross (D) and Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R) secured the state grant 
    • MORE INFORMATION: Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project


    “I was honored to be able to carry a budget request with Senator Nick DiCeglie for that money,” said State Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. “We know it doesn’t fix all of the problems but it helps.”

    The pump station will be located under the roadway at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NE and Bayshore Boulevard, according to the Director of Engineering and Capital Improvements Brejesh Prayman.

    “The discharge piping will then extend underground easterly towards Tampa Bay,” he said. “The existing outfall will be modified to allow the new piping to convey stormwater to Tampa Bay.”

    Prayman said the station will have six pumps installed allowing for redundancy and will have emergency backup power.

    “On average the pumps which will be installed underground are expected to be approximately 10 feet tall,” he said. “Giving a sense of the stormwater capacity based on the size of the pumps.”

    The discharge piping from the pump station will include a design feature of creating an inverted “U” which will act as a flow control not allowing high tide to flow back into the stormwater pump station and eliminates the need for a backflow preventer, according to Prayman.

    A building for the electrical components will be constructed on the right of way east of Bayshore Boulevard which will be at an elevation above the FEMA floodplain. Pending permit approvals, construction is expected to begin in summer 2026 and will take one year to complete.

    The relief can’t come soon enough for the lowest-lying neighborhood in St. Petersburg. Last year, Hurricane Helene flooded nearly 2,200 homes, which was 82 percent of the neighborhood. Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said he’s frustrated with the city’s timeline.

    “My honest opinion, the timeline sucks,” he said. “We were told it was going to start September of this year.”

    Despite wanting to see the project happen faster, Batdorf said he’s grateful for a shovel-ready project, which should eliminate sunny-day flooding.

    “I’m excited to see that this is finally going to happen,” he said. “It can’t come soon enough.”

    The pump station is part of a much larger flood mitigation project for Shore Acres, which has been estimated to cost $33 million. The project also includes box culverts, backflow preventers and elevating sections of roadway and intersections.

    Rep. Cross said these types of projects are really easy to champion in Tallahassee.

    “It was a very compelling project for the legislature to fund because we knew it’s shovel. We’re ready to use this money. It’s part of a larger comprehensive plan,” she said. “The city has got skin in the game with significant amount of match.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Petersburg unveils city’s first purpose-built water testing lab

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg unveiled the city’s first purpose-built water testing laboratory on Tuesday, which protects the environment and aims to ensure drinking water flows during hurricanes.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg unveils new water testing lab on Tuesday  

    • The storm-hardened facility cost about $9 million and has 8 labs

    • The lab tests stormwater, beach surface water, drinking water and wastewater

    • Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Gulfport also utilize the regional asset


    “Clean, healthy water is essential for everything we do,” said John Palenchar, Water Resources Director. “Whether it’s the water we drink, the beaches we enjoy, or the environment that we depend on that supports us.”

    The new facility cost about $9 million and is a nationally accredited environmental laboratory that prioritizes public health. City leaders held a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday and invited the public for a tour.

    Mayor Kenneth Welch said the new facility would stand up to storms much better than the old lab, which was in an administration building. Welch said staff was scrambling in the old lab after Hurricane Milton last year.

    “Our old retrofitted lab lost power,” he said. “Our staff had to run more than 180 drinking water tests in one day so that we could lift the boil water notice.” 

    The new lab is storm-hardened and has modern equipment. The facility has commercial power, backup generator power and a second backup generator.

    “This isn’t just about the hurricanes,” said Copley Gerdes, City Council Chair. “This is about making sure that every day, whether the sun is out or not, that our people have a place to do the work that is needed for our city.”

    There’s a total of 8 different water testing labs inside the facility. Palenchar said the metals lab tests to make sure the city’s industrial customers are properly disposing of their wastewater.

    “We have to ensure that they’re not discharging any of those metals  — those harmful metals  — into our system, because those would pass through our treatment,” he said. “Metals aren’t treated in a domestic wastewater plant.”

    Palenchar said the nutrients lab tests for nitrogen or phosphorous in surface water from Tampa Bay or the Gulf beaches, which can create red tide blooms.

    “The most, I guess, important nutrient that we measure in the Bay is nitrogen,” he said. “That really is an indicator of how much nutrient pollution is going into our Bay, which feeds algae growth and blocks the light from getting to the sea grasses.”

    Special overhead red lights are used in the chlorophyl lab to test water from Tampa Bay for plant matter.

    “If there’s a lot of plant matter like algae, algae is photosynthesizing. So it uses chlorophyl. That’s a good indicator of the cloudiness in the water,” said Palenchar. “It’s what the Tampa Bay Estuary Program uses to measure. It’s a performance measure of the health of Tampa Bay.”

    Palenchar said the microbiology lab is the most popular by the number of analysis run and impacts every single type of water.

    “Stormwater, beach surface water, drinking water, of course, and wastewater,” he said. “So all those different water types have microbiology components that need to be monitored to make sure that those waters are healthy for either human contact or, in the case of drinking water, for drinking.”

    Palenchar said the lab is a regional asset, which Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Gulfport also utilize.

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Pete Beach considers moving historical home near shuffleboard courts

    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — St. Pete Beach city leaders will soon consider moving a historic home 15 blocks to replace the Pass-a-Grille shuffleboard clubhouse, which has been slated for demolition after the building was severely damaged by last year’s hurricanes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 90-year-old shuffleboard clubhouse will soon be demolished after being severely damaged by last year’s hurricanes 

    • The owners of the 100-year-old Deacon cottage in Pass-a-Grille have offered to donate it to the city 

    • It’s estimated to cost about $160,000 to move the historic home 15 blocks south to the shuffleboard courts property 

    • City commissioners will consider approving the move at their Dec. 9 meeting 


    “The city saves money by not having to build a new structure,” said Bill Lowery, Historical Preservation Board Chairman. “They get a house in place that’s in great shape.”

    Lowery said he came up with the idea when city commissioners approved the demolition of the 90-year-old shuffleboard clubhouse earlier this month. Commissioners made that decision after finding out the cost to rebuild the historic clubhouse would be $192,000.

    “This is not a responsible use of the money. So I agree that it needs to be demolished,” said Lowery. “It was a beach shelter that was moved from Gulfport by barge back in the late 1920s.”

    Lowery said the owners of a historic Pass-a-Grille home, which did not flood, have offered to donate it to the city as they prepare to build a new house. The 100-year-old home was owned by Jack Deacon who was the Pass-a-Grille mayor in the 1930s and the president of the shuffleboard club, according to Lowery.

    “It was just kind of like karma,” he said. “You feel like it was just meant to be.”

    Saving one historic home has become a big deal for Lowery. He said in the four years leading up to Hurricane Helene, 14 historic homes had been demolished. After the storm, Lowery said the demo numbers skyrocketed.

    “In the last year since the storm, we’ve had 30,” he said. “Which is a significant percentage of the homes on Pass-a-Grille.”

    City Commissioner Jon Maldonado, who represents District 4, agrees with Lowery’s sentiment.

    “It’s with a heavy heart that we’re starting to see these structures go down in record numbers,” he said. “So anything that we can do to preserve even one building is going to be significant for St. Pete Beach, specifically for Pass-a-Grille.”

    Maldonado said he supports moving the historic Deacon cottage from 24th Avenue to become the new shuffleboard clubhouse on 9th Avenue.

    “I support it 100 percent. It’s not only a great gesture, it’s just the building has a lot of historical character,” he said. “The commission was in agreement that we should pursue whatever options we could within reason.”

    Lowery said a resident got an estimate to move the historic home further than the shuffleboard courts, and the cost was $162,000. He hopes the city can use insurance and FEMA money to help offset the cost.

    “What they (city commissioners) called the ‘Path Forward,’ they mentioned there was about $170,000 in funds to potentially build the new clubhouse,” he said. “Now, whether that was going to happen or not, I don’t know, but that amount of money would probably cover the move.”

    Lowery said they’re also up against a tight deadline as the owners of the historic home want to start construction in January.

    “We just have a time crunch, which we understand and appreciate,” he said. “That’s why we’re acting as fast as we can.”

    Public Services Director Camden Mills said he plans to present the city commission with a potential plan to move the historic home at their Dec. 9 meeting and seek guidance. 

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Pete Store open for 10 years, $1M in local art sales

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Pete Store has sold more than $1 million of handmade merchandise from local artists over the past 10 years, according to the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Chris Steinocher.

    “We really wanted to prove out to people that art is economic development,” he said. “We really want to let people know that in St. Pete we value the artists, we value the jobs they create and we value the way they make us feel.”

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Pete Store celebrated its 10 year anniversary in October 

    • The store has sold more than $1 million of handmade merchandise from local artists  

    • The St. Petersburg City Council awarded the Chamber of Commerce $30,000 to get the store going  

    • Currently 113 local artists have merchandise for sale in the store


    Steinocher said the store was only made possible thanks to $30,000 in seed money the St. Petersburg City Council awarded the Chamber to start the business in October of 2015. The CEO said he wanted visitors to leave with souvenirs from Tampa Bay artists, instead of corporations.

    “Start to really be creative about what would people from around the country and the world want to buy from St Pete and that’s local handmade art,” he said. “Sell things from St. Pete.”

    When the store first opened there were only 21 artists signed up. This year there have been 113 artists, according to St. Pete Store manager Shelli Hemans.

    “Over the years, it’s just increased. Now artists come to us and want us to take their information,” she said. “They are vetted. It is a juried process and we don’t just take anybody’s art. We take really nice stuff.”

    Hemans said the St. Pete Store works on a consignment model which the artists love.

    “They get a split on it. We don’t charge them rent, we don’t even charge them an admin fee to keep up with the art coming in,” she said. “So they’re very happy with us.”

    Steinocher said it makes him feel good to write checks to Tampa Bay area artists every Friday.

    “Those resources go back into the artist’s pocket themselves,” he said. “We’re cutting checks to families that are going to be buying groceries and going to Publix and other places.”

    The best seller in the store for 10 straight years has been the world tour t-shirt which lists the cities: Paris, London, Tokyo, St. Pete, and was created by artist Chad Mize, according to Hemans. 

    “People will buy it for their entire family and… they’re all going to Paris,” she said. “Take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower… I just think it’s become a thing.”

    Clearwater artists Keith and Debbie Watson, the co-creators of PVC figurines Nauti-Birds, said they have been selling their merchandise in the St. Pete Store for more than two years.

    “People come and say we saw you at the St. Pete Store,” said Keith. “It’s an honor to be in there.”

    Debbie said the exposure had been good for business and feels privileged to be included in the store.

    “You’re a part of something and all these great artists that are in there and you were picked as one of the artists to be in there,” she said. “So it’s just tremendous.”

    Hemans said the store is popular with locals, she estimates more than 60 percent of the traffic comes from locals.

    “We’ve kind of become St. Pete niche,” she said. “If somebody is moving out of town to the Midwest or something and they’ve lived here a long time, their friends will come and do a little gift bag for them of stuff.”

    Hemans is an artist herself and has her jewelry for sale at the St. Pete Store. After working at the Chamber for 12 years and managing the store for the past 10 years, Heman wrapped up her tenure last Friday.

    “I have a wonderful team of volunteers and three part time paid people,” she said. “It’s just been a real honor to serve the community.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Despite hurricanes, Pinellas 2025 bed tax collection only slightly down

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Visit St. Pete-Clearwater released its fiscal year 2025 Pinellas County bed tax collection last Wednesday which showed it was only down $4 million from the previous year despite the back-to-back hurricanes that devastated the area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fiscal year 2025 Pinellas County bed tax collections were $92.5 million 

    • Clearwater and St. Petersburg were the leading producers of the bed tax  

    • The 2025 bed tax was 4.4% or $4 million lower than in 2024 

    • September visitor numbers were 14.4% higher than the previous year and helped to boost the annual total


    “We were down 4.4 percent,” said Eddie Kirsch, VSPC Digital and Data Director. “Considering we just went through two massive hurricanes this past year, it shows the resiliency of our area that I think is really worth noting.”   

    The fiscal year runs from October 2024 to September 2025. Kirsch said the September visitor numbers were higher than the previous year and helped to boost the annual total.

    “September development tax was… over 14-and-a-half percent above 2024,” he said. “That’s great numbers. We had about $4.8 million in collections.”

    The leading bed tax producing cities for 2025 were Clearwater, which brought in about $27 million and downtown St. Petersburg, which collected about $13 million, according to VSPC. The total bed tax collections for fiscal year 2025 was $92.5 million. Collections in 2024 were $96.7 million, 2023 was $98 million and 2022 was $95 million.

    “There’s not a whole lot of destinations out there that collect over $90 million annually,” said Brian Lowack, VSPC Pres. and CEO. “We’ve done it four years in a row, which is remarkable given last year’s event.”

    Lowack credited the newer infrastructure on Clearwater Beach for those hotels bouncing back faster, compared to older construction in south county areas like St. Pete Beach, which still have a few big hotels closed for repairs from the storms.

    “Some of the folks who would typically come down… maybe in the southern portion of the county,” he said. “Maybe they tried out a different destination on Clearwater Beach or St. Pete this year.”

    The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach General Manager Seth McDaniels said Hurricane Helene sent 6 feet of water into the basement of the hotel, causing multi-million dollars in damage, but luckily none of the front-facing guest areas were affected. McDaniels said the Wyndham reopened about a week after Hurricane Milton passed.

    “As soon as the bridge opened, I think it was seven days later, we were able to open the hotel up for business,” he said. “That was great for the community, for our team, to get back to work.”

    McDaniels said the hotel bounced back better than expected.

    “We recovered in a strong way, especially on occupancy,” he said. “We really only lost from 2024 three months out of the year. Everything else… we exceeded our occupancy expectations and year over year.”

    The general manager credits his staff and the VSPC “Still Shining” campaign for helping to get the word out after the storms that the area was open.

    “I think the biggest piece of it was really just kind of informing and giving confidence to our guests that we’re open for business,” he said. “Our team did an amazing job… We had drone shows. We put lists of all the restaurants in the area, bars, that were open.”

    The Pinellas County bed tax is used to market the area to visitors. It’s also used for capital projects that draw visitors, like beach renourishment or remodeling the Palladium Theater.

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  • Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel shows off $92 million upgrades

    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — The Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel unveiled its new $92 million renovation on Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jeff Mayers, managing editor of the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, said that a new 13-acre golf driving range is just part of the resort’s renovation

    • 8 new pickleball courts have been added, and all 451 guest rooms were renovated

    • A ribbon cutting to unveil the $92 million project was held Thursday


    Those upgrades touch nearly every corner of the property known for its golf and tennis.

    The Pasco County tourism director expects the renovations to draw bigger groups to the area.

    The newly-renovated lobby now offers an elevated welcome to Saddlebrook, which blends modern sophistication with sports training.

    Managing Director Jeff Mayers said that a new 13-acre golf driving range is part of the resort’s renovation.

    “On the other side, the far side down the driving range is actually for our students and those that are pros that are long-ball hitters as well,” Mayers said. “So it really creates a multi-faceted use of the driving range.” 

    The renovations also include eight new pickleball courts.

    Last year, the Professional Pickelball Registry moved its global headquarters to Saddlebrook.

    Mayers said all the landscaping and amenities surrounding the 500,000-gallon super pool is all new. The resort has 451 guest rooms, which were all renovated.

    “It had been probably 10 to 15 years since the last renovation. So that was very important,” he said. “The feedback from the customers, they came and stayed with us, was about the condition of the units.”

    Mast Capital and Amzak Capital Management acquired the resort in 2022, with a long-term commitment to its revitalization.

    Wednesday’s ribbon cutting celebrated the three-year achievement with Pasco County community leaders. 

    Mayers says the resort’s 95,000 square feet of renovated meeting space is drawing more business.

    “We’re already seeing our lead volume increase,” he said. “We’re seeing definitely the group segment. New groups are looking at us to come in and hold their meetings because they’ve seen the new Saddlebrook and are very excited to be a part of hosting events here.”

    Adam Thomas, the Pasco tourism director, expects the Saddlebrook renovations to draw more visitors and boost the county’s bed tax, which totaled $7.6 million this past fiscal year.

    “Our number one resort coming back to its heyday and allowing us to go after further groups for their clients that we normally don’t go after, and allows us to basically elevate our profile as a destination,” Thomas said.

    Mayers called it a rare large-scale reinvestment in Wesley Chapel’s tourism infrastructure. 

    The reopening is expected to drive staff growth, likely 75 to 100 new hires as the resort heads into the busy season.

    More development is coming to the Saddlebrook property with a forthcoming town center, a 120-unit townhome community and 25,000 square feet of commercial space.

    Josh Rojas

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  • Tampa Bay Water reaches goal of saving one million gallons per day

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Water began its Water Wise program 5 years ago, with a goal of conserving one million gallons per day, which the agency reached for the first time last month, according to Demand Management Program Manager Amelia Brown.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Water Wise program, which began in 2020, reached its goal last month of saving one million gallons per day

    • The agency said hotels and apartment buildings enrolled in the program have contributed the most to the water saved 

    • The owner of the Quality Inn in St. Petersburg said the water-efficient fixtures have saved his business about $10,000 over the past few months 

    • Tampa Bay Water offers a variety of rebates which cover between 20 to 50 percent of larger project costs


    “We’ve achieved a significant milestone of saving over a million gallons of water per day, every day, from all the rebates that we’ve issued,” she said. “It’s important to save water because that leaves more water in the natural environment, and it also saves customers money.”

    Brown said hotels and apartment buildings have contributed the most to the water saved, but homeowners also play an important role.

    “They can save water through replacing their toilets and through the rebates available for their outdoor sprinkler systems as well,” she said. “In a home, 50 percent or more of the water use can be used outdoors just to water your yard.”

    The owner of the Quality Inn in St. Petersburg, John Moradi, said he enrolled in the program over the summer and had water-efficient fixtures installed in all 75 guest rooms. Moradi said the hotel conserves about 80,000 gallons per month, which has saved the business about $10,000 over the past few months.

    Moradi said he plans to enroll a larger hotel he owns, the Comfort Inn, into the Water Wise program too.

    “We have 118 rooms there,” he said. “We want to pass this saving to that property as well.” 

    Moradi said at first he was a little worried about the potential flow from the water-efficient showerhead but discovered it works well.

    “The technology has been improved,” he said. “It’s not blocking in any water flow… we don’t have any complaints.”

    Brown said Tampa Bay Water offers a variety of rebates which cover between 20 to 50 percent of larger project costs. The agency recently doubled its rebates for toilets. Homeowners are eligible for up to $100 for WaterSense labeled toilets with proof of installation or up to $200 for replacing older 3.5 gallons-per-flush models or installing ultra-efficient 0.8 gpf toilets. 

    For multi-family and commercial properties, rebates range from $100 to $200 per fixture, depending on the level of water savings achieved.

    The increased rebate amounts for homeowners run from this month through May 2026, with applications due no later than June 30, 2026. Commercial and multi-family rebates are available for qualifying installations completed between Sept. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2026.

    “Whether you’re a business owner or a homeowner, we want more customers to participate in this program,” said Brown. “It’s a limited-time offer. So we hope that they’ll take advantage of this opportunity to save even more money and water.”

    Tampa Bay Water has a new goal of conserving nearly 4 million gallons by 2030.

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Pete City Council weighs-in on mayor’s Gas Plant strategy

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg City Council members talked publicly for the first time about Mayor Kenneth Welch’s redevelopment strategy for the Historic Gas Plant District at their Thursday meeting, and a majority were critical.

    What You Need To Know

    • At their meeting on Thursday, five out of eight St. Petersburg City Council members were critical of the mayor’s Gas Plant strategy

    • Those five members said they want to see an RFP and master plan developed first 

    • Two city council members backed Mayor Kenneth Welch’s strategy 

    • On Wednesday, Welch extended the proposal window to begin in January, instead of mid-November


    “Community conversations and priorities do not equal planning,” said council member Lisset Hanewicz. “I think we need a longer period, and it is once in a generation.”

    Under pressure from the community, Welch sent a memo to the City Council on Wednesday, stating he was extending the city’s deadline for the proposal window to open in January, instead of mid-November.

    “That will constitute 105 days since our Oct. 21 announcement,” he said. “I do not believe reissuing an RFP is necessary or beneficial. Our priorities, expressed in 23 Guiding Principles of the 2022 RFP have not changed.”

    Welch said those priorities include jobs, housing, equitable economic development resilience, green space and meaningful recognition of the HGPD community.

    “Our goal remains a redevelopment process that is actionable, inclusive, and true to the commitments made to the Historic Gas Plant District,” he said. “I look forward to continuing this work with Council to ensure the outcome reflects our shared values.”

    Council member Corey Givens said he wants to see a master plan developed from an Urban Land Institute study first, and believes the extension is still not enough time to get everything done.

    “I think it is unwise for us to rush this. We need more time,” he said. “I still don’t think 100-plus days is ample. I would like to see more.”

    Council member Brandi Gabbard also said there should be a longer timeline before more proposals start flowing in.

    “I don’t understand this rush for a quick win right now,” she said. “I recognize there are particular pieces of this property that we want to move forward, but I don’t necessarily believe that we need a master plan developer to even do that.”

    Council member Gina Driscoll said she would like to see a new request for proposals opened up for the 86-acre site.

    “I feel much more comfortable with an RFP process,” she said. “Just to be really blunt, I think if we’re going to be serious about this, start counting votes now. If I’m not comfortable with the process, I’m probably not going to be comfortable with the proposal that’s brought forward for us to vote on.”

    Council member Richie Floyd, who put the RFP issue on the agenda and sparked the conversation amongst council members, said he wants to see a plan before opening the proposal window.

    “I assume you heard us express concern with how we’re going about it,” he said. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to evaluate whatever gets in front of me, but I might. It’s just harder to come to terms with something when you don’t like how you got to something.”

    The only two council members who publicly backed Welch’s approach were Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Mike Harting.

    “I just really want to see the Gas Plant descendants not be pushed in the back,” she said. “To me, we’re still losing the focus on why it’s called the Gas Plant project.”

    Harting said he agrees that there’s no need for a new RFP, and he was glad the mayor extended the proposal window.

    “I’m OK with the process the administration has set forward,” he said. “I do appreciate the mayor looking at a longer time frame.”

    Chair Copley Gerdes was the only council member who did not weigh in on the topic.

    The proposal window was triggered by two unsolicited bids the city has already received. The five council members critical of Welch’s approach also said an appraisal should have been done before the proposal window opens.

    City Development Administrator James Corbett said the city would not negotiate a sale for the land without the appraisal first.

    “By the time we get the appraisal, it would likely be in January or in February,” he said. “I also want to make sure that we time the appraisal where it’s not too dated.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Hubbard’s Marina acquires competitor with pirate ship

    MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Hubbard’s Marina has expanded its waterfront entertainment options at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach by having acquired competitor Sunshine Scenic Tours on Monday, which included a pirate ship, according to Capt. Dylan Hubbard.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hubbard’s Marina acquired competitor Sunshine Scenic Tours on Monday

    • The sale included the Royal Conquest Pirate Ship, Dolphin Quest, Shark Boat and about 20 employees

    • Capt. Dylan Hubbard said he plans to continue to operate the popular tours seamlessly 

    • The PTSA will vote next month on whether to officially name Hubbard’s Marina as the new operator of the Cross Bay Ferry


    “The addition of these attractions marks a significant investment in John’s Pass and Tampa Bay tourism,” he said. ”Reinforcing John’s Pass as a top destination for family-friendly adventure.”

    The price of the sale has not been disclosed. Hubbard has added three boats to his fleet with the purchase, the Royal Conquest Pirate Ship, Dolphin Quest and Shark Boat. Hubbard took his first ride on the Pirate Ship on Wednesday.

    “This is definitely a little bit of a different ride than I’m used to. Normally by now, we’ve got the rods out and we’re already baiting hooks,” he said. “I’m excited to get dressed up like a pirate with the kids.”  

    Renee and Dustin O’Neal operated Sunshine Scenic Tours for more than six years, while the pirate ship has been at John’s Pass for the past 25 years. O’Neal said it was not an easy choice to sell the business but trust Hubbard to continue the legacy they created.

    “We wish Dylan, the Hubbards, and our beloved crew all the best,” he said. “We loved running Sunshine Scenic Tours.”

    Hubbard said the O’Neals could have listed their business on the open market but chose to work with him, which he has been humbled by.

    “It was pretty cool to have that opportunity and that vote of confidence, if you will, from a fellow competitor,” he said. “To give us that opportunity to continue upon the business they had built.”

    Along with the boats, Hubbard said he was happy to get about 20 employees. Marine Specialist Kirsten Smail said the employees have been excited about the transition.

    “The whole vibe around here is all positive,” she said. “We’re really happy that we’re going to be under Dylan Hubbard.”

    During the 2024 fiscal year, there was $6.4 billion in direct spending from 15.4 million visitors, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. Normally, John’s Pass draws one million visitors annually and has been a top attraction in Pinellas County. Since the back-to-back hurricanes last year, business at John’s Pass has been a lot slower as the area still works to recover.

    Hubbard has had better luck in the past year, he said his business had four record breaking months and he hopes to spread that success to the newly acquired attractions.

    “Plug our resources and our team and our logistics in behind what’s already been built,” he said. “Hopefully continue to rise the tide for John’s Pass as a rising tide raises all boats.”

    Hubbard said he plans to continue to operate the popular tours seamlessly, ensuring no interruption of service. It has been a year of expansion for Hubbard’s Marina, as the PTSA will vote next month on whether to officially name the business as the new operator of the Cross Bay Ferry.

    “Currently we have the intent to award from PSTA staff,” he said. “We’re hoping that at the PSTA board meeting in December they’re going to finally ratify that RFP award.”

    The Hubbard family has been connecting the community with Tampa Bay’s water for 4 generations and has nearly a century or maritime heritage and operational expertise.

    Josh Rojas

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  • Judge makes ruling in homeless lawsuit against St. Pete

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County judge on Tuesday dismissed the motion for a third-party group to join a homeless lawsuit against the city of St. Petersburg.

    Restaurant owner Ronicca Whaley filed a lawsuit against the city in July, claiming the city was allowing homeless people to sleep overnight on public property.

    It’s one of the first lawsuits filed under a new state law.

    Whaley alleges the city’s conduct is hurting her business by enabling atrocious behaviorrs.

    The city in September asked the judge to dismiss Whaley’s lawsuit, stating it was based on vague assertions.

    The Progressive People’s Action asked the judge to intervene in the lawsuit, saying the case could affect the organization’s ability to deliver benefits.

    Both the plaintiff and defendant asked the judge to deny the PPA motion, which Judge Amy Williams ended up doing Tuesday.

    “This lawsuit is not about taking away aid or taking away anything from homeless,” Williams said. “This is simply about enforcing the law and whether the people should be allowed to sleep in the parks.”

    Earlier this month, Judge Williams also denied the city’s motion to dismiss Whaley’s complaint.

    The state law prohibits local governments from allowing overnight sleeping in public spaces.

    The lawsuit will proceed to the recovery stage.

    Spectrum News Staff, Josh Rojas

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  • Don CeSar Place celebrates 100th anniversary in St. Pete Beach

    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The iconic Don CeSar Place neighborhood will host a 100th anniversary party at the Don CeSar Hotel on Sunday in St. Pete Beach to celebrate the founding of the Thomas J. Rowe corporation in 1925. 

    “This corporation created Don CeSar Place, which was to include a fabulous hotel for guests who wanted to come in the winter and stay temporarily,” said Matthew Bane, local historian. “And this neighborhood for those residents who wanted to come and spend the entire season.”

    What You Need To Know

    • The 100th anniversary event celebrates the founding of the Thomas J. Rowe corporation in 1925

    • Rowe built the Don CeSar Hotel first on the 80 acres of land he purchased, followed by the neighborhood

    • Some of the original homes Rowe built around 1930 are still standing and occupied

    • The 100th anniversary celebration begins at 5 p.m. at the Don CeSar Hotel on Sunday and tickets for the event have been sold out


    St. Petersburg developer Thomas Rowe built the Don CeSar Hotel first on the 80 acres of land he purchased, followed by the neighborhood, which currently has more than 300 homes.

    “He then was going to fund the ongoing operations of the hotel and the neighborhood through the sale of residential lots and homes,” said Bane. “We started to see houses being built more and more quickly as we approached the end of World War II.”

    Some of the original homes Rowe built around 1930 are still standing and occupied. Bane said one of those homes at the foot of the Don CeSar Hotel has lasting importance.  

    “The house is incredibly historically significant… because of its proximity to the hotel and because it was built in a style that reflects the Spanish architecture of the Don CeSar Hotel itself,” he said. “This is one of the very first houses that was built in Don CeSar Place.”

    Kathy Garchow lives in the neighborhood and is a board member on the Don CeSar Property Owner Corporation. She helped to plan the anniversary celebration and has been trying to help save the iconic neighborhood from flooding by pushing the city for more resiliency projects.

    “I can’t tell you the outpouring of people that still want to keep this neighborhood booming and growing,” she said. “This is just a beautiful little neighborhood of people that I think reach out and care.”

    The legacy of the Don CeSar Hotel includes hosting the New York Yankees in the 1930s, along with presidents, celebrities and notable people from all over the world. Rowe named the hotel after an opera character and passed away there at the age of 69. The hotel was then run by the military for nearly three decades, sat vacant for a few years before being refurbished and reopened in 1973.

    “This hotel will stand long beyond the vision of Thomas Rowe or the Hubbards or anybody else that has passed through the neighborhood,” Bane said. “This hotel and this place are special.” 

    Special for visitors and those who live nearby, as the Don CeSar Place residents get ready to honor their history both past and present. The 100th anniversary celebration begins at 5 p.m. at the Don CeSar Hotel on Sunday. Tickets for the event have been sold out.

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Petersburg unveils walkable artwork in Sunset Park

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg unveiled a 175 foot long walkable mosaic aimed at drawing visitors to Sunset Park on Wednesday, which depicts the sunrise over Tampa Bay in the east and ends with a sunset on the Gulf beaches in the west.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Sunshine City Mosaic was unveiled on Wednesday in Sunset Park in St. Petersburg 

    • The artwork is made up of 15,000 pieces of porcelain tile and glass, which creates nine vignettes of Florida’s wildlife

    • It took three local and emerging artists two and a half years to complete the project  

    • The 175 foot long walkable mosaic aimed at drawing visitors to Sunset Park


    “The goal when we originally started was to make kind of an iconic piece for the city,” said artist Alex Kaufman. “Something that everyone would take pride in.”

    Kaufman, along with artists Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer and George Retkes, were commissioned by the city in 2023 to create the Sunshine City Mosaic for $50,000. The artwork is made up of 15,000 pieces of porcelain tile and glass, which creates nine vignettes of Florida’s wildlife.

    “The Sunshine City Mosaic is not just a public art installation, it’s a celebration of our community’s spirit and natural beauty,” said Mayor Kenneth Welch. “It’s exciting to see such an ambitious project come to life, connecting our vibrant artistic culture with the stunning landscapes of our parks on the west side.”  

    Spencer called the two-and-a-half-year project, which endured some public delays, a “remembrance piece” and was still processing its completion.

    “When you’ve worked on a project for as long as this one, it becomes like a sibling or a family member,” she said. “I’m still going to be sneaking out here once a week to sweep her off and make sure she’s doing okay.”

    The artists were hoping it was going to be longest mosaic in Florida, but the Science Center has a mosaic that is 275 feet long which the city believes holds the record. Retkes said before the unveiling that the Sunshine City Mosaic had been getting a lot of buzz in the Old Pasadena neighborhood.

    “They’ve already expressed some gratitude for seeing a new piece and getting to walk through the park to enjoy it,” he said. “(It) should hopefully attract some more people over to the side of town.”

    Kaufman said the city got a great deal on the project, and he was grateful they were chosen through a program for emerging artists.

    “They took a chance on us, and we gave them something really special in return. So it’s beneficial to both parties,” he said. “This is an amazing deal for the city, but it’s also our hometown. So, it’s also our business card too.”

    The Sunshine City Mosaic joins the more than 90 pieces that make up St. Pete’s public art collection.

    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Petersburg police target e-bike misuse after 3 fatal crashes

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This week the St. Petersburg Police Department conducted a special operation targeting e-bike misuse.

    The crackdown comes after three fatal accidents this month, where the e-bike riders were allegedly at fault.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg Police issued 161 tickets to electronic mobility device users over three days this week

    • The targeted enforcement operation was in response to three fatal e-bike accidents this month

    • Officers were looking for people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting 


    “We’re out here trying to do the enforcement to try to curb that problem,” said Sgt. Michael Schade. “The biggest problem we’re seeing is just that the bicycles and the scooter operators are not following the basic rules of the road.”

    The targeted enforcement was conducted from Wednesday through Friday with officers looking out for riders on e-bikes, e-scooters, and uni-wheels. The violations officers said they saw were people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting.

    “The scooters can’t ride tandem,” Schade said. “The uni-wheels can’t be on the road at all, road or sidewalk.”

    Schade said officers issued 68 citations on Wednesday, 24 on Thursday and 69 on Friday.

    The enforcement on Thursday night involved a large group of e-riders who completely take over the road when they go from North Shore Park to Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. Due to complaints, police said the group, which rides on a regular basis, was stopped and warned over the summer about restrictions on the various mobility devices.

    On Friday, Spectrum News went on a ride-a-long with Schade, who quickly spotted a man who allegedly ran a red light on a bicycle. He stopped the man and explained the problem.

    “You went through the red light, OK?” Schade said. “So, we’re out here doing bike enforcement because we’ve had several fatalities related to bicycles.”

    The rider, Patrick Jarrell, was issued a $64 ticket. Jarrell said he understood why he was stopped.

    “They’re doing their job. There’s a lot of accidents out here,” he said. “So I’m glad they’re doing it. Unfortunately, I’m not loving this, but it is what it is.”

    Another rider on an e-scooter, who allegedly ran a stop sign at the Pier, did not stop when ordered by Schade. The man fled on his scooter until Schade caught up with him near the Vinoy. The man was arrested on charges including fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and no driver’s license.

    Schade said any scooter motor that’s stronger than 750 watts is considered a motor vehicle. He said the e-scooter the man was riding has 5,600 watts.

    “It’s capable of doing over 50 miles an hour,” he said. “So, this is actually classified as a motorcycle.”

    The problem is being seen all over the city, police say. In the Harbor Isle neighborhood, resident Geoff Davis said he and his neighbors have been having problems with kids on e-bikes riding in backyards and cutting in between homes.

    “They literally trespass on everybody’s property,” he said. “These are dirt bikes that are very high horsepower, very high powered, and they’re very fast.”

    Davis said the kids also race their e-bikes on 16th Street N.E., because it’s a long straight road.

    “It goes all the way down there like a big drag strip,” he said. “This is where we routinely see donuts, tire marks, drag racing kids on these e-bikes, doing wheelies up and down the street. This is where they play.”

    Schade said officers have been seeing people from all ages riding recklessly on electronic mobility devices — from 12 years old to 60. He said the three fatal accidents all involved adults.

    Davis said he’s thrilled the police conducted a special operation on e-rider who break the rules, especially the kids.

    “The issue is the sheer number of them and the fact that they’re not regulated,” he said. “The parents do not understand what they’re doing. They’re contributing to something that can get these children injured or killed.” 

    Josh Rojas

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  • City leaders push for Urban Land Institute study for Gas Plant

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved having a committee discuss hiring the Urban Land Institute to study the best way to develop the 86 acres Historic Gas Plant District as more proposals are expected to arrive next month.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Pete City Council unanimously approved having a committee discuss hiring the Urban Land Institute to study the best way to develop Gas Plant

    • The St. Pete Chamber of Commerce offered to help pay for the $135,000 study

    • The Urban Land Institute studied the waterfront district in 2013 

    • This month, the city has received two unsolicited proposals to develop the Gas Plant District


    “This is to really to give city council some guidance as it pertains to what is the best use of this property,” said Council Member Brandi Gabbard. “How can we really get the biggest return on our investment?”

    Gabbard brought the motion last Thursday to refer the ULI proposal to the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee because she wants the council to have an unbiased, professional study.  

    “They’re not here to make money off of this property,” she said. “They are here to give us guidance so that we make sure that we make the best deal, the best negotiation possible for the residents of the City of St. Petersburg.”

    The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Steinocher also urged the city council to pay for the ULI study.

    “What did we learn from getting the best master developer in Hines and the Rays that walked away from us?” he said. “What did we learn from that and what can we do differently?”

    The city council unanimously approved referring the ULI study to the committee, a date has not yet been set. Steinocher said the chamber would be willing to help pay for the $135,000 study.

    “We’re willing to raise money for that at any point, because I really believe in a public-private partnership,” he said. “If everybody uses the same studies, if everybody uses the same data and everybody hears the same opinions and same presentation, it’s easier to get everybody on the same bus to get going forward.”

    Steinocher pointed out the ULI did a study on the waterfront district in 2013 and many of the proposals have been implemented. For example, the study called for building a new pier, enhancing the 7 mile long waterfront park system for public use, no private development and creating an Innovation District.  

    “They leave you with a report that allowed us to build the waterfront master plan that guides us today,” said Steinocher. “I’m hopeful that same kind of opportunity or ideas come through, if we are able to do that for our Gas Plant area.”

    The Urban Land Institute states it sets the standards of excellence in development practice by utilizing its oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary experts in the world.

    This month, the city has received two unsolicited proposals to develop the Gas Plant District from ARK Ellison Horus and the Pinellas County Housing Authority. On Tuesday, the city said it would open a 30 day window for more proposals in mid-November.

    “Honoring the promises made to our community, including the residents of the Historic Gas Plant District, has been a top priority of my administration and we continue to explore ways to pursue impactful outcomes that reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents,” said Mayor Kenneth Welch. “I intend to ensure that any redevelopment reflects the values and priorities of our entire community – honoring our history while creating pathways for inclusive progress and a thriving future for all in our city.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Palladium Theater awarded $2.5M from Pinellas bed tax fund

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Palladium Theater was recently awarded $2.5 million from Pinellas County’s tourist development tax fund, when the capital project request was unanimously approved by commissioners, allowing the St. Petersburg venue to move forward with major renovations.

    “That was the last money we needed to really start this project,” said Paul Wilborn, Palladium Theater executive director. “So it’s very exciting.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Palladium Theater awarded $2.5M from Pinellas bed tax fund on Oct. 7

    • The capital project request was unanimously approved by Pinellas commissioners 

    • The Palladium has raised $10.8 million to begin renovations next year  

    • All 815 seats will be replaced, sightlines will improve and a new acoustic ceiling will be installed


    Wilborn said money granted from Pinellas County on Oct. 7, combined with grants from the State of Florida, the city of St. Petersburg and private donations, total $10.8 million for the renovation project, which is expected to begin in late summer next year.

    “We’ve raised over $7 million, almost $8 million, in private donations. So we’ve got more still to come,” he said. “I think it just shows that we’ve stayed with our mission of being this community-focused venue that really works with local people in our community. And that’s paid off for us.”

    The renovations include completely replacing all 815 seats, which will have a new configuration to improve sightlines, re-raking the balcony and removing the plaster ceiling for better acoustics.

    “We’re dropping in an acoustic ceiling,” said Wilborn. “There’s 12 feet of attic above the current ceiling, and that’s going to let sound rise up in there and have some curtains that we’re able to drop when we’re doing amplified music.”

    Due to rising costs, Wilborn said they had to remove a few items from the renovation list, which include an orchestra shell and raising the performance stage. He hopes to raise more money in the future to complete those projects.

    “We still think there’s going to be things we want to do additionally,” said Wilborn. “So we’ve got more still to come.”

    The Palladium was built in 1925 as a Christian Science church and is on the Register of Historic Places. Since 2007, the theater has been owned and operated by St. Petersburg College.

    Wilborn said he expects the renovations to begin next August and the Palladium will go dark for about one year until the work is complete.

    “We very likely will close the whole theater for eight to 12 months,” he said. “We might do some satellite projects. We’re still debating that.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Madeira Beach buys waterfront property for $18M

    MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Madeira Beach has agreed to purchase 4.6 acres of vacant waterfront property located at the city’s entrance off the Tom Stuart Causeway for $18 million and will close the sale on Wednesday. 

    “It’s a really good deal,” said Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks. “We purchased the land for a considerable amount of money less than what it appraised at.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Madeira Beach has agreed to purchase 4.6 acres of waterfront property for $18 million

    • The land located at 555 150th Ave. was appraised for $21 million and $27.5 million

    • The mayor wants community input on how to develop the land 

    • Commissioners unanimously approved the sale at their Oct. 1 meeting


    The land located at 555 150th Ave. was appraised for $21 million and $27.5 million, far above the agreed upon sale price of $18 million. The city maintains a cash reserve of more than $37 million and will use that money to purchase the land, according to Finance Director Andrew Laflin.

    “What I would recommend is that we… go through a reimbursement resolution, at the next regular meeting. Which would be in November,” he said. “That would preserve the city’s ability to engage in a tax exempt finance.”  

    Laflin said a tax exempt finance would give the city the ability to pay itself back in the future for the purchase price with a lower debt service cost and interest rate. Brooks said expanding the city’s marina and adding boat slips could also help offset the cost.

    “So there is a possibility of extending the marina to be a cost making, revenue generating establishment which would be great for the city long term,” she said. “The possibilities are endless.”

    Other ideas floated for the vacant land include a public works facility and a waterfront park. Brooks said the city will use input from residents to decide how to develop the property.

    “We don’t know what we’re going to do with it yet because we have a community that needs to be a part of that decision,” she said. “The idea when we purchased the property was that we would use it for recreational green space in some fashion, but we’ll wait and see what the community wants.”

    Madeira Beach city commissioners unanimously approved buying the land at their Oct. 1 meeting. Commissioner Eddie McGeehen called it “a great investment for the city.” Vice Mayor Ray Kerr said, “This piece of property is an opportunity that will only come by us once.”

    Commissioner David Tagliarini said it was a chance for the city to control the appearance of its main entrance.

    “I like the idea that we’re in control of what people see first when they come over the Tom Stuart Causeway for a change,” he said. “We get to decide what it looks like and I think that’s very positive.”

    Brooks said several years ago developers wanted to build a hotel, condos and townhomes on the property. She said the city buying the land was a decision that just made sense.

    “This may not be the time that many people thought we should do it because we’re coming off the heels of two hurricanes,” she said. “But sometimes you don’t get to choose the time to make the purchase. You have to make the purchase when it’s afforded to you.”

    Brooks called it a strategic investment she hopes residents and visitors will enjoy for generations to come. The city will hold public workshops over the coming months to develop a plan for the waterfront property.

    Josh Rojas

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  • Pinellas unveils hurricane recovery programs for vulnerable residents

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County will launch its People First programs next week which will prioritize vulnerable residents with lower incomes who have been struggling to recover from last year’s hurricanes.

    “if you qualify we want to get money in your hands,” said Brian Scott, Pinellas County Commission Chair. “This is going to be a huge economic lift for this county.”

    The programs have been funded by the largest federal storm recovery grant awarded to any local government in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to Pinellas County. A total of $813 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HUD grant also applies to damage from Hurricane Idalia in 2023.

    “I really think the program for mobile homes, I think that’s really going to be impactful,” said Scott. “So if you live in a mobile home community and you are affected highly, highly encourage you to apply.”

    The first two programs residents will see benefits from are Disaster Relief Reimbursement and Homeowner Reimbursement. Residents earning 80 percent of the area medium income can get up to $15,000 in storm related expenses in the Disaster Relief Reimbursement program.

    “If they were paying a mortgage and also rent at the same time, if they had utility expenses, things that were not covered by any other form, FEMA, insurance, anything,” said Matthew Spoor, Pinellas County Assistant Administrator. “We know a lot of low to moderate income individuals, especially in our barrier island communities, lost their jobs, didn’t have jobs for a while. So those things would be covered up to $15,000.”

    Residents earning 120 percent of the AMI can get up to $50,000 for code-compliant repairs already completed in the Homeowner Reimbursement Program.

    The next two programs to come online are Homeowner Rehabilitation/Reconstruction and Local Landlord program. Owners who qualify can get up to $375,000 to completely replace their home or rental property. Landlords must agree to rent income-qualified tenants.

    “For repairs or rehabilitation that have not occurred on the property,” said Spoor. “That could include up to replacing the home.”

    The last program will be Homebuyer Assistance, which will provide up to $80,000 for closing costs to purchase a safer home outside flood zones for income eligible residents. The HUD grant calls for 70 percent of the money to be spent on residents with low to moderate incomes. One person earning $58,450 per year qualifies as 80 percent AMI, while another person earning $87,600 qualifies as 120 percent AMI.

    “Once we can prove that we’ve satisfied an unmet need in those particular income brackets,” said Scott. ”Then we can apply for waivers because that may not fit everybody.”

    Scott said Pinellas County stood up the program quickly and he hopes they can cut checks to residents by Christmas.

    “We did this in lightning speed as well. I’ve really got to take hats off to staff and my fellow commissioners,” he said. “If you look down south of us, in Lee County, it took them almost two years to get money in the people’s hands. And we’re doing this in just over a year.”

    The People First program is not available to St. Petersburg residents because the city will soon launch its own program called Sunrise St. Pete. All other residents in Pinellas County can begin applying on Oct. 20 at recover.pinellas.gov or by calling 727-606-3307.

    Residents can meet with case managers at 2600 McCormick Dr., suite 100 in Clearwater or 5000 Park St., suite 4 in St. Petersburg. Case managers will also be visiting community centers and other locations countywide at pop-up sites in the coming months to help residents apply for the programs.

    Josh Rojas

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  • Pinellas County installs new tidal gauge sensors

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas County environmental management has installed 11 new tidal gauge sensors around the peninsula over the summer, which will provide real-time data for flood-prone areas during king tides and storm surge.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County Environmental Management has installed 11 new tidal gauge sensors, bringing the total to 13

    • Pinellas Public Works contracted with Hohonu to provide the sensors, data and maps

    • The real-time data from the ultrasonic sensors is available to the public

    • The county will use the water level gauges to better communicate the threat of flooding


    “So, having that real localized data is really important to us,” said Rob Burnes, environmental management project manager. “Especially when you’re talking about a matter of inches and feet for flooding roads and flooding structures.”

    Burnes said the county realized after last year’s back-to-back hurricanes that it had a blind spot in some areas. At that time, the county was relying on two tidal gauge sensors. The only one for west Pinellas was a NOAA sensor located at Clearwater Beach.

    “So we really focused on trying to get some stations on the west side that would give us that information,” he said. “As well as we knew we had some trouble points within the county that we wanted to get better ideas of what was going on flooding wise.” 

    Pinellas Public Works contracted with Hohonu to install 11 tidal gauge sensors, which encircle the county from Weedon Island to Fort DeSoto to Boca Ciega and Tarpon Springs, bringing the total to 13 sensors. Each sensor costs $3,000 per year to operate, according to Burnes.

    “What we’re trying to do is really just get an idea in these distinct parts around the county,” he said. “So we have a good idea of what’s going on real time with the flooding conditions.”

    The real-time data from the ultrasonic sensors is available to the public, which can be very helpful for residents living in flood-prone areas.

    “You can see this data,” said Burnes. “You can see all the sites we have with the county.”

    The county will use the water level gauges to better understand and communicate the threat of flooding in real-time.

    “So, being able to have this data, being able to have this data quickly and in real time, it’s huge,” Burnes said. “Again, it lets us get out, gets a message to emergency management, gets the message to our operations people, and then gets the message out to the public, ‘Hey, you might need to pay attention to what’s going on here.’”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Tampa Bay Rays’ new owners outline future for team, hopes for stadium

    TAMPA — A new era of Tampa Bay Rays baseball kicked off Tuesday morning when the team’s new ownership group gave its first remarks about the team’s future, both on and off the field.

    Tampa Bay Rays Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski, Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove and Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby met with reporters at Steinbrenner Field.

    Their purchase of the team became official last week, though previous owner Stu Sternberg will still maintain a stake in the team.

    “We are honored and feel privileged to be the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays. This moment is not just about ownership; it’s about stewardship,” Zalupski said.

    “We recognize the deep responsibility we now carry to deliver a championship-caliber team on the field and a world class experience for our fans.”

    Zalupski said the ownership team’s goal is to have a “world class ballpark” ready for 2029.


    “It’s no secret that we need a new forever home to secure the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa Bay,” Zalupski said. “Delivering upon that objective is our first priority.”

    The group also announced that President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander and manager Kevin Cash remain in their positions. 

    “We’re going to continue to support them,” Babby said. “We believe in what the previous regime has created and want to build to sustain it.”

    The goal for a stadium site encompasses all of the Tampa Bay area, according to the new owners. They referenced the idea of a 100-acre site containing hotels, offices, retail, bars, restaurants and a music venue.

    The three have been meeting with the Atlanta Braves, who opened a new stadium in 2017 and have watched the surrounding Battery area grow since with restaurants, hotels and other businesses. The stadium and shopping district are actually outside Atlanta, instead located in nearby Cobb County.


    “We spent a lot of time studying, evaluating, doing, meeting with the Atlanta Braves, they’ve been incredibly generous with their time and resources,” Zalupski said. “So let us look at the Battery. We think the Battery is the gold standard of what we want to we want to build and develop here in Tampa Bay.”

    Zalupski said he learned from the Braves that the more land, the better — with a balance.

    “For us, this is critical to building a championship team. You have to meet the criteria,” he said. “For us, we think it’s likely 100-plus acres. If you ask the Braves, they’ll tell you what was the one thing you’d do differently if you could, and they’ll say, ‘land, land, land, more land.’ They’re now over 100 acres. More is better, but it’s also balance of location, quality of location and the amount of land. There’s a point that will intersect. So it’s not just, ‘This is 500 acres, 30 miles outside of Tampa.’ That’s not what we’re looking for. Great location and as much land as we can get.”

    The group is meeting this week with leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg to discuss options.

    Zalupski said part of the deal to buy the team was that they could not meet with city officials until the sale was complete.

    Babby, described as the team’s new CEO, acknowledged there is long-standing “fatigue” in the area about where the Rays would build a new home — with frequent speculation they might decide to leave altogether. But MLB has repeatedly said it wants the team to stay. Several sites in the area have previously been considered, such as the nightlife-rich Ybor City neighborhood, the grounds of a Tampa community college and even an old greyhound racetrack.

    “We’re looking at everywhere,” Babby said. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves to one location or site.”

    Meanwhile, work continues on Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The ballpark had its roof ripped off and suffered significant internal damage last October during Hurricane Milton. By the end of the week, Babby said, half of the Trop’s 24 roof panels will be installed.

    Under the Rays’ current lease with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays are obligated to play at the Trop for three more seasons.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.


    Spectrum News Staff, Josh Rojas, Associated Press

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