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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 reservations and that local officials should prepare immediate, clear messaging to explain causes and durations of temporary closures. The board discussed using in‑house marketing resources and existing partner channels to provide fast, accurate updates when water‑quality closures occur.
Board members also discussed longer‑term coastal work. Officials said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving ahead with dredging of certain channels, which could generate sand usable for nourishment of southern beaches; however, that work does not address Sand Key, which requires separate arrangements.
Separately, presenters described months‑long delays on a state‑funded dredging project for a beach area near a bridge. The permit for that project was not applied for until July 2024 despite state funding allocated in September 2022, staff said. Meeting participants reported that three people have died at that beach location since funding was approved and expressed frustration that the project has not started; staff warned that allocated state funds could expire at the end of the year if work does not begin soon.
Board members suggested a mix of short‑term and long‑term steps: develop rapid media messaging protocols for water‑quality advisories; consider targeted communications to reduce hotel reservation losses after brief closures; and engage with state and federal partners to accelerate permits and to secure dredged sand where feasible. One commissioner recommended positive outreach to residents who have already signed easements so their decisions become visible community examples.
What wasn’t resolved: board members did not adopt a new campaign in the meeting. Several members asked staff to explore targeted communications options and to continue working with federal and state officials on permits and funding for nourishment projects.
