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Board urges clearer communications after temporary beach closures; county leaders discuss federal dredging and easement hurdles
Summary
Board members called for an immediate media communications plan after a Department of Health beach closure produced hotel cancellations. Separately, commissioners and staff discussed beach nourishment funding, Army Corps dredging that may produce sand for some projects, and ongoing problems getting easements and permits for other nourishments.
Board members raised communications and coastal‑protection challenges at the June 11 Visit St. Pete Clearwater meeting after a recent Department of Health beach closure led to canceled hotel reservations and community concern.
"We need a media communication strategy for when something like that happens again," the chair said, noting that the Department of Health closure was caused by stormwater runoff and cleared within a day or two but that the initial messaging stoked public assumptions about sewage spills and produced cancellations at some hotels.
Meeting participants said hotels reported lost…
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