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Oldsmar highlights community engagement and hurricane‑response alliance in annual report
Summary
City staff presented the FY24–25 community engagement report, describing the city’s use of the IAP2 participation spectrum, hurricane recovery partnership work (Oldsmar Support Services Alliance), outreach tools and awards received; council praised the effort and asked for continued emphasis on public involvement.
City Manager Felicia Donnelly introduced Assistant to the City Manager Jordan Lance, who gave the council an overview of the city’s FY24–25 community engagement efforts required by the community engagement policy adopted in January 2023.
Lance framed the report around the IAP2 public participation spectrum (inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower) and illustrated each level with examples: the City’s annual magazine and Alert Pinellas for informing residents; surveys and downtown work sessions for consulting; neighborhood collaborations and door‑to‑door outreach during hurricane recovery for involving residents; partnerships with local nonprofits (the Alliance) for collaboration; and plans to expand public‑facing selection processes (public art) and park user surveys to move toward empowerment.
The presentation highlighted the Oldsmar Support Services Alliance — formed as a community‑led recovery and coordination body after Hurricane Helena — and credited the alliance with improved coordination of door‑to‑door outreach, resource distribution and longer‑term resilience. Jordan noted social‑media reach metrics (one emergency services suspension post reached ~56,000 views) and said the city will expand video content on social platforms.
Council members commended the report and its use across agendas, budgets and project trackers. Several members said the Alliance model is now a template for future engagement and thanked staff for the work.
Representative quotes "The report is designed to highlight the city's commitment to open communication," Jordan Lance said in the presentation.
"The Alliance was a testament to what collaboration, community, and compassion can achieve," Lance added describing the hurricane response.
