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Resident tells committee hotels 'act like it’s a private beach,' urges fees and greater accountability
Summary
During general comment, resident John Kurzman said parts of the St. Pete Beach shoreline are treated as private by hotels and vendors, urged the city to seek fees that better reflect business use of the beach and called for changes to beach signage and enforcement.
John Kurzman, a resident and member of a local beach stewardship committee, used his allotted public comment to urge the Budget & Finance Committee to address what he described as commercial treatment of the shoreline.
Kurzman said hotels and some vendors behave as if sections of the beach are private, using signs, poles and equipment that he said dissuade the public from using the shoreline. He recommended the city examine its existing business tax and permit structures and consider fees that better reflect the scale of commercial activity on the sand — for example, charging vendors for cabana and chair operations in proportion to use rather than a nominal annual property fee.
Staff acknowledged the concern and said business‑on‑the‑beach regulations are part of the third phase of a beach‑ordinance rewrite; staff proposed returning later in the year with more specifics after stakeholder engagement. No policy changes were adopted as a result of the comment and staff will include the topic in upcoming ordinance work and stakeholder outreach.
