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Residents urge faster action on rebuild and clearer timelines during Treasure Island public comment
Summary
Several residents told the commission it must accelerate implementation of redevelopment and planning efforts after storm damage. Donna Jolimore said residents describe parts of the island as 'abandoned' and urged the commission to move the process forward with urgency; Mark Hoey asked for clearer fiscal trade-off details and how Forward Pinellas is funded.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the commission for faster action on redevelopment and clearer information about plan timing and funding.
Donna Jolimore said she and other residents have waited nine months for a planned-development process, described damage and neglect on parts of the island and asked why recommendations for heightened density might be delayed until December. "If that is how the community sees itself today, then why does the process continue to move so slowly?" she asked, urging the commission to help "move the process forward with the urgency that our residents, businesses [and] property owners deserve." (public comment)
Mark Hoey, District 3, who has attended Raftelis outreach meetings, asked the consultant and commission to be explicit about fiscal trade-offs. Hoey noted local revenue is heavily weighted to residential property taxes and said that, while residential values have been affected by recent storms, replacement with higher-value homes could restore residential tax revenue over time: "speaking of Treasure Island, 80% of the revenue is coming from property taxes, from residential." He also asked for clarification on how Forward Pinellas is funded; staff later confirmed the agency is funded through the county millage plus state and federal transportation grants.
Other public commenters raised code-enforcement and property-maintenance concerns, suggested using drones to inspect back properties for hazards, and encouraged staff to publish budget meeting materials ahead of a Friday budget session. Commissioners acknowledged the comments and pointed to upcoming community meetings and work sessions where those topics will be considered further.
