St. Pete Beach City Commission Meeting and Budget Workshop - June 9, 2026

The St. Pete Beach City Commission held a regular meeting and budget workshop on June 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Key actions included approving the Suncoast Beach Trolley agreement at a reduced amount, continuing the first reading of an ordinance updating marine turtle and coastal wildlife protections, and providing budget direction on revenue strategies including a fire assessment fee study.

Consent Calendar

• The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included approving the May 26, 2026 City Commission meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Comments:
  • Lisa Kurzman: Discussed property rights and the distinction between ownership and use rights, advocating for a customary use ordinance.
  • Kyle Fleming (Cairo Fleming Photography): Expressed concern about potential restrictions on beach photography, noting that clients often require very short notice for bookings.
  • Deborah Shechner (Boca Ciega resident): Urged the commission to resolve the customary use issue before finalizing the beach ordinance. Raised complaints about an illegally operated parking lot on 46th Avenue and requested an update on an investigation into mothballs placed on the beach.
  • Dana Richardson (Bahama Way South resident): Thanked the commission for their prior actions on the beach ordinance. Proposed creating a resident input committee to provide early feedback on policy, mirroring meetings held with hoteliers.
• Item 5a: Suncoast Beach Trolley Agreement:
  • John Kurzman: Supported the trolley but raised safety concerns about the Sunrunner bus being too wide for Gulf Boulevard lanes, recommending it be rerouted.
• Item 4b: Marine Turtle & Coastal Wildlife Ordinance:
  • Stacey Gallagher (Sea Turtle Conservancy) & Katie Mastonbrook (National Wildlife Federation): Supported the ordinance updates, recommending a 30% visible light transmittance (VLT) standard over the proposed 45%, and stressed the importance of regulating transient lighting.
  • Cindy Perry (Black Skimmer Advocate / St. Pete Audubon): Presented evidence of fireworks frightening nesting black skimmers, urging a ban on fireworks during shorebird and turtle nesting seasons.
  • Joe Widlanski (Sea Turtle Expert): Testified that shark fishing lights, patrol vehicle headlights, and other sources are causing sea turtle disorientation and false crawls. He noted a drop in nesting numbers and supported amber/red wavelength lighting and better enforcement.
  • Deborah Shechner: Suggested creating a beach regulations binder for law enforcement and improving hotel guest education. Raised concerns about safety from deep holes left on the beach.
  • Dana Richardson: Supported a thorough review of the ordinance. Urged the city and hotels to embrace turtle education and consider removing lounge chairs during turtle season.
  • John Kurzman: Called for a broader community town hall to balance environmental needs with resident quality-of-life issues, such as lighting impacts on home interiors and pedestrian safety.
  • Kevin Realy: Recommended the commission consider this ordinance and its companion beach ordinance together to avoid legal inconsistencies.

Discussion Items

• Action Item 5a: Eighth Addendum to Suncoast Beach Trolley Agreement:
  • PSTA Chief Planning Officer Darden Rice and COO James Bradford acknowledged communication errors on the contract. PSTA offered to reduce the FY 2026 contract from $308,279.51 to the city’s budgeted amount of $220,600, absorbing the $87,679.51 difference.
  • Detailed ridership statistics for routes serving St. Pete Beach were provided. Commissioner Marriott questioned the PSTA funding model (St. Pete Beach is a non-member city) and the dependency of paratransit services on bus route proximity. PSTA committed to investigating safety concerns about the Sunrunner bus width on Gulf Boulevard.
  • Commissioner Marriott motioned to authorize the city manager to execute the contract at the revised amount of $220,600. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).
• Ordinance 2025-16: Marine Turtle and Coastal Wildlife Protections (First Reading):
  • Planner Brandon Barry presented the ordinance, which updates lighting standards to the 2020 state model. It requires long-wavelength bulbs, specifies property modification triggers for compliance, and prohibits fireworks on or over the beach during nesting season (February 15 to October 31).
  • Commissioners discussed the need for more resident input from condo owners, the practical enforcement of handheld lighting rules, and the safety conflict between turtle-safe lighting and pedestrian visibility on Gulf Boulevard.
  • Commissioner Maldonado requested addressing drone and searchlight disturbances.
  • A motion was made to continue the first reading of the ordinance to a date certain alongside the companion beach ordinance. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).
• Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Workshop (Continued from prior session):
  • Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Review: Staff reviewed priority projects, including major road rehabilitation, the WSP study for the Pass-a-Grille drainage area, the community center seawall (grant-dependent), Blind Pass South Jetty improvements, and the Bella Vista Mini Park pier.
  • Revenue Strategy Direction:
    • High Priority: Commission directed staff to budget $85,000 for a fire assessment fee study to determine the feasibility of shifting fire service costs from the general fund.
    • Medium Priority: General support was expressed for exploring a resiliency fee and pursuing aggressive grant applications. The CRA proposal was placed on hold pending results from the November property tax ballot measure.
    • Low Priority: Commissioners agreed bonds will be a necessary tool for major infrastructure needs but will be explored fully after the WSP study results are received and other revenue streams are optimized. Commissioner Maldonado suggested marketing for Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funding and reviewing fees for commercial beach uses.

Key Outcomes

• Suncoast Beach Trolley Agreement: Approved the Eighth Addendum at the reduced cost of $220,600 for FY 2026. Vote: Unanimous (5-0).
• Turtle & Wildlife Ordinance (2025-16): The first reading was continued to a date certain alongside the companion beach ordinance. Vote: Unanimous (5-0).
• Budget Direction:
  • The commission authorized pursuing a fire assessment fee study and including the associated $85,000 cost in the budget.
  • Staff was directed to explore marketing for TDT funding, review commercial beach activity fees, and defer major bond strategy work until the WSP study is completed.