Beach stewardship committee finalizes goal plan, seeks clearer staff liaison and meeting process

The St. Pete Beach Beach Stewardship Committee reviewed a draft goal plan and focused on how the committee will interact with city staff and the City Commission to implement that plan.

Committee members agreed the group is advisory and that the committee’s formal schedule is set by the ordinance that created it, which states the committee "shall have meetings quarterly" but allows special meetings to be called by the chairman, the City Commission, the city manager or any three of five regular members. Committee members emphasized that workshops do not require commission approval and that the committee can request additional meetings under the ordinance’s special-meeting provision.

Members pressed for a clear staff liaison to support the committee’s work. Several speakers said they supported keeping the current interim liaison, Ayaka, while identifying a permanent contact. The committee also identified Camden Mills as the new director overseeing public services and asked staff to explain how beach maintenance and related responsibilities will be organized under that office.

The group discussed how and when it should hand its goal plan to the City Commission. Committee members said the clerk’s office previously advised that a completed plan could be sent to the commission for review and, if the committee wants additional regular meetings rather than occasional workshops, a formal change or notice to the commission may be required.

Committee members asked staff to provide clearer, faster notice when commission agendas include beach-related items. The committee noted the commission agenda posts one week before meetings and said that a combination of the city manager’s weekly newsletter and an explicit notification to committee members when a beach-related agenda item appears could give the committee time to prepare and, if needed, call a special meeting (three members required to schedule).

Committee members agreed to maintain the quarterly meeting schedule established by ordinance and to call special meetings as needed under the ordinance’s existing rules. They also asked staff to return with a clearer description of who will serve as the long-term staff liaison and how the beach stewardship work will be staffed and funded.