St. Pete Beach staff report near 4,500 post‑storm permit applications; residents urge faster permits, fee relief and more resiliency funding

Community Development Director Laura Canary told the City Commission on June 10 that recovery work from last year’s storms is continuing and that staff are shifting some focus to hurricane preparedness.

"Through June 1, we've received just under 4,500 applications," Canary said during the briefing, adding that staff are averaging about 54 permit issuances a day and about 103 inspections a day as the office works toward a 60 permits‑per‑day goal. Canary said city staff had issued 3,385 permits, had 300 submissions that needed additional information and were still processing appeals and outstanding assessments.

The presentation summarized the city’s substantial‑damage (SD) determinations and appeals process. Canary said the city had completed 3,520 SD assessments and mailed a final batch; of the SD letters described in the briefing, 1,693 properties were determined ‘‘not substantially damaged’’ and 826 were determined ‘‘substantially damaged.’’ She said the city had received 948 appeals by the stated cutoff date; 761 appeals had been approved and 187 were in progress.

City Attorney Ralph described the county and state appeal routes for building‑official determinations. He said appeals of a building official’s final decision go to the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board and that filing is currently $100. On floodplain determinations, Canary said the city is awaiting additional technical guidance from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the FEMA technical advisory committee before finalizing proposed local rules and an ordinance that will include criteria, appeals and “deviations” rather than the term ‘‘variance.’’

Canary also outlined preparedness work underway: staff have delivered National Incident Management System and incident command system training across departments, completed damage assessment training with Pinellas County, and scheduled a tabletop exercise on June 16. She said the comprehensive emergency management plan and departmental emergency plans are being updated, and that the substantial damage administrative plan is being revised to document procedures for future events.

During audience comment several residents described continuing difficulties with permitting, the appeals process and the cost of repairs. Mark Kanak (3693 Vinzetto Drive East) said he successfully appealed an SD letter that originally found his house 30‑percent damaged; after appeal the SD determination was changed to 79 percent so he could apply for certain grant funds. "I got the substantial damage increased to 79 percent so we could apply for some of the grant money," Kanak said, and asked the commission to streamline the elevation and permit steps so repairs can move faster.

Paula Manati (230 Little Drive) told commissioners she was charged for a permit related to an air‑conditioning repair and asked the city to consider extending fee waivers for residents still rebuilding. "I don't really think that it should be done," she said of charging fees for storm‑related repairs, arguing residents still face other expenses nine months after the storm.

Other speakers pressed the commission to prioritize flood mitigation and resiliency spending. Mary McReynolds and other residents urged the city to accelerate projects they said address sewage and standing water in homes during high tides and storms. Don Cesar Property Owner Corporation board member Kathy Garchow described neighborhood resiliency plans the city listed as medium‑ and long‑term needs and urged the commission to fund a resiliency adaptation program.

Commissioners asked staff for additional details. Vice Mayor Marriott asked whether the daily averages Canary cited were cumulative averages rather than current day‑to‑day intake; Canary said the 269 figure is a cumulative average since the recovery began and that intake is lower on many days now. Commissioner Mulholland pressed staff for clearer standard operating procedures (SOP) that would keep city managers and commissioners better informed in an emergency; Canary and the fire chief said departmental SOPs are being updated and that the emergency operations organization chart and assignments are being clarified so whoever holds a title can step in quickly.

Canary said staff are also coordinating with FEMA and the Florida Department of Emergency Management and that Pinellas County has posted updated recovery information online, including a breakdown of a regional allocation of $813 million now under local planning and discussion.

What the commission directed: The briefing produced no formal votes. Commissioners asked staff to continue refining administrative and appeal procedures, to return with clarification about the variance/ deviation language following FDEM guidance, and to present more detail on permit‑processing timelines (including average time to demolition permits and final closeouts) and the duration of temporary staff needed to sustain current throughput. Commissioners also requested staff look into options for targeted assistance or a process to consider fee waivers for residents who can document unresolved financial hardships tied to storm recovery.

Why it matters: The city is still processing thousands of recovery permits and appeals while entering hurricane season. Residents said delays and fees are slowing repair and elevation work, and some asked the commission for more direct financial relief or expedited permit handling. City staff said they are updating administrative rules and pursuing technical guidance from FDEM and FEMA before adopting new floodplain administrative rules.

Next steps: Staff will return with clarifications on the appeal and variance/deviation process after FDEM feedback, additional timeline metrics for demolition and closeout permits, and options for how the city could consider targeted fee relief for verified hardship cases.