COUNCIL MEMBERS TAKE OFFICE | |
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Incumbent council members Frank Bankard (left) and Kimberly Shaw Elliott (right) were sworn in to new terms on City Council at the April 8, 2024 City Council meeting. With the recent changes to the City Charter, they will both serve until November 2028.
City Attorney Randy Mora administered the Oath of Office.
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MAYOR GATTIS SWORN IN AS BIG-C VICE PRESIDENT | |
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Congratulations to Mayor Dave Gattis on being selected to serve as the next Vice President of the Barrier Islands Governmental Council (BIG-C)! Mayor Gattis has been the Belleair Beach delegate to BIG-C since 2021.
The BIG-C is a governmental council including eleven municipalities on the west coast from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater. The BIG-C fosters communications between the barrier island cities to focus on problems common to all and to unite as one voice addressing the County, State and Federal governments while respecting the individuality of each city.
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Picture 1 - Mayor Gattis is being sworn into office.
Picture 2 - Mayor Gattis stands between BIG-C President, Mayor David Will (L) from Redington Beach and BIG-C Treasurer, Mayor Jim Rostek (R) from Madiera Beach.
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DEPUTY ROBERTSHAW RETIRES | |
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Deputy David Robertshaw (right) retired on Tuesday, May 28th from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office after 25 years of dedicated service to the residents of Pinellas County.
Deputy Robertshaw spent all 25 years of his career in Patrol. For 13 of those years, he was a Field Training Officer (FTO), training new deputies how to handle calls appropriately. He also spent 3 years as an FTO Corporal where he worked with a Sergeant to supervise the deputies who were training the new deputies. He has been assigned to the City of Belleair Beach since April 2022 and recently received recognition from the city for his actions helping a kayaker who overturned in the Gulf and was struggling to get to shore.
Deputy Robertshaw has made many friends in Belleair Beach. He regularly stops and talks to residents who are out for a walk or working in their yards. He is also known for having dog treats, and he will be greatly missed by the dogs who look forward to finding him on their walks to get their treats.
The City of Belleair Beach thanks Deputy Robertshaw and congratulates him on his well-deserved retirement!
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SLOW SPEED, MINIMUM WAKE ZONE BUOYS | |
 |  | Several years ago, the Belleair Beach City Council recognized the increased high speed boat traffic along our coast line, both beach and bay side. In conjunction with the Pinellas County Dept of Water and Navigation, they established Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Zones. On the gulf side of Belleair Beach, the zone separates the boating public from the bathing public. On the inland side of Clearwater Harbor, a line of buoys was set out approximately 300 feet from the City’s seawalls. This Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Zone was multi-functional in that it was designed to protect boaters traveling in and out of the fingers, kayakers and paddle boarders, and the manatees that travel our coastline. Boaters leaving their lifts and those just exiting the fingers needed a buffer from the high-speed boat traffic and big wakes created from that traffic. Moving the high-speed traffic 300 feet off the seawalls reduces the big wake impact and gives everyone a greater sightline to avoid accidents. All boaters are asked to respect the regulations and move offshore past the buoys before increasing speed and reduce to minimum wake speed before entering these zones. Penalties and enforcement is provided by the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol.
Stay safe this summer!
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POST-STORM GUIDANCE AND PERMITTING | |
- Return home only when officials have declared the area safe.
- Take photos or video of the damage.
- Remove wet contents promptly.
- File your insurance claims promptly.
- Apply for permits through the City.
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PINELLAS COUNTY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY | |
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Pinellas County is ready to face the unprecedented challenge in the coming decades of adapting to climate change and sea level rise. Flooding from tides and storms is increasing, and areas away from the coast are being affected when rising seas combine with groundwater. The effects on groundwater are especially noticeable when there’s heavy rain and the water doesn’t drain away as expected. Pinellas County is going further to better understand these risks and prepare for the future by conducting a Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Vulnerability Assessment survey. Please click the button below to complete the survey.
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Pinellas County has proposed improvements along West Bay Dr. within the City of Belleair Bluffs and City of Largo. The project will begin at Belleair Bridge in Belleair Bluffs and continue east for approximately 1.9 miles to Clearwater-Largo Rd. in Largo.
The intent of this project is to mill, resurface & restripe the pavement, add landscaped medians, and construct a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity for residential areas and local businesses to the Pinellas Trail.
Project Timeline
Design: March 2022 – Fall 2024
Construction: Mid 2025 – Early 2027
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CONSTRUCTION SEASON REMINDER | |
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As a reminder during construction season, there is no loading/unloading construction materials on top of a city seawall. Commercial vehicles associated with the loading and/or unloading of materials and equipment are limited to park for a maximum two-hour period, unless otherwise approved. Debris, including soil, sand, dust and spent or scrap material shall not be left on sidewalks, public access ways or any public right-of-ways. Thank you for keeping Belleair Beach beautiful!
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BELLEAIR BEACH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | |
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The Belleair Beach Community Foundation (BBCF) addresses the needs of our beach community and its residents. The BBCF is currently raising funds for a Veterans Memorial at Crossman Park, located at the intersection of Gulf Blvd and Causeway Blvd. For more information, or to donate, please click here. A ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Major General (retired) Charles W. Whittington, Jr. will be held on November 9th at 10:00am.
To learn more about the Belleair Beach Community Foundation or to get involved, please visit www.belleairbeachcommunityfoundation.org
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BELLEAIR BEACH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | |
The Belleair Beach Community Foundation Summer fundraiser begins June 10. Beach towels embroidered with "Life is Better in Belleair Beach" will be sold for $50 each, while supplies last. Contact BBCF Board Member Deb DiCosimo at dadicosimo@gmail.com to purchase. | |
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IN MEMORIAM
Dorothy D Von Rohr
DECEMBER 9, 1918 – MARCH 28, 2024
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Dorothy von Rohr, age 105, of Belleair Beach, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 28, 2024. She was born on December 9, 1918, in St. Louis, Missouri. Dorothy led a remarkable life, marked by her dedication to both her career and her community. Her true passion lay in service to her community and helping others. She was deeply involved in various organizations. In Belleair Beach, she dedicated her time to serving as president and secretary of the Belleair Beach Civic Association (formerly the Property Owners Association), the Island Way Garden Club, and the Belleair Beach Ladies Luncheon Club. Beyond her commitments to service, Dorothy enjoyed a rich and fulfilling life. Dorothy's presence in this community will be missed.
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The City of Belleair Beach is seeking volunteers to serve on our boards and committees. Our city is greatly enriched by the work of the volunteer board and committee members who contribute their time, effort, and expertise to help improve the quality of life for our residents.
As a member of one of our boards or committees, your role is to help shape the future of the City of Belleair Beach. In addition to elected officials and staff, the City of Belleair Beach relies on boards and committees to enhance the decision making process. The process provides an opportunity for further public discussion and gives the City Council a broader base of information on which to formulate decisions.
Click here for more information about the boards and committees or to apply.
Please contact City Clerk Renee Rose at 727.229.8434 or by email at renee.rose@cityofbelleairbeach.com for more details.
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BBCF Bridge Cleanups are Year-Round
~ Be the Change in Your Community ~
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The BBCF adopted the Belleair Causeway through Keep Pinellas Beautiful, with a commitment to clean the bridge quarterly. The BBCF appreciates everyone who continues to help keep Belleair Beaches and Causeway looking beautiful. Home Depot generously provides equipment, materials and employee volunteers to assist. Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue also sends volunteers for each cleanup. The next bridge cleanup will be July 20 at 9am. Please consider joining in to keep our city clean and beautiful. Supplies and refreshments are provided.
Click here for more details
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We want you to send us your favorite photos to be featured on our website!
What kind of photos are we looking for? Anything that makes Belleair Beach special! Please submit photos you personally took in Belleair Beach. They don’t need to be professional quality – phones take amazing photos these days! Please do make sure your photos are in JPG or PNG format.
You can submit your photos here. By submitting your photos, you’re agreeing to allow the City of Belleair Beach to feature your photos in marketing materials such as the website and newsletter.
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Do you think a neighbor would like to receive news from the City?
Belleair Beach Residents can sign up to receive news about meetings, events, city surveys, emergency information, and more.
Click HERE to sign up
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ASK THE CITY MANAGER
Submit a question or comment to
City Manager Kyle Riefler
ASK HERE
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
June 3, 6:00pm - City Council Meeting
June 13, 6:00pm - Board of Adjustment Meeting
June 17, 6:00pm - City Council Work Session
June 20, 11:30am - Park and Recreation Board Meeting
July 1, 6:00pm - City Council Meeting
July 15, 2023 - City Council Work Session
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