Commission approves FDOT landscaping MOA; staff to seek county bed-tax help for beach maintenance

The St. Pete Beach City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Resolution 2025-17, authorizing a memorandum of agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for landscape improvements along a stretch of Gulf Boulevard.

Public Services Director Camden Mills said the District 7 FDOT award — not to exceed $186,340 — will fund landscape improvements in medians between 70 Fifth Street and the Bayway; the blind-pass project was not awarded this year because of FDOT resurfacing plans. The city will contract and complete the work, then invoice FDOT for reimbursement up to the award amount.

Why it matters: The program improves Gulf Boulevard’s medians and reduces local maintenance costs for the city’s public-facing corridors. The award covers construction of landscaped islands; the city remains responsible for maintenance of other FDOT-owned medians outside the awarded stretch.

Motion and vote: The commission adopted Resolution 2025-17 by roll-call vote (unanimous). The city clerk recorded the public resolution and staff will proceed to contract for the work.

Related discussion — beach maintenance funding: Separately, city manager and mayor discussed taking a regional approach with other beach-city mayors (the “big c” group) to request assistance from Pinellas County’s tourist development tax (bed tax) for ongoing beach maintenance. Staff said the city currently spends nearly $1.0 million in ad valorem funds on public beach maintenance and will ask the big-c mayors whether the county or the bed-tax board could provide recurring support because maintenance directly supports tourism.

Ending: The commission approved the FDOT agreement and directed staff to pursue coordination with neighboring beach cities on a potential county/bed-tax request for beach maintenance support.