TREASURE ISLAND – A move is under way for the city and an anonymous donor to finance a Fourth of July fireworks display on the beach.
Treasure Island City Commissioners decided April 6 to move ahead on a proposal by Dominique Reiter, president of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce, that would have the city pay $5,000 and an unidentified resident provide $5,000 in a joint effort for the fireworks.
Garden State Fireworks provided an estimate of $12,000 that Reiter said could be whittled down to $10,000.
Reiter said management at the Bilmar Beach Resort Hotel indicated a fireworks show would either make or break its holiday weekend. Prospective hotel patrons have been inquiring about fireworks on the Fourth of July and many have decided to go elsewhere when staff couldn’t confirm whether fireworks would be part of the weekend.
“Last year we had good fireworks (provided by a single donor) and the people that came didn’t come for the beer truck or to hear the bands,” said Reiter. “They came for the fireworks.”
“We know the chamber does a good job with fireworks,” said Commissioner Alan Bildz. “I’m not against fireworks. I’m just against government paying for it.”
Commissioner Carol Coward said it was important for the city to partner with business on the project.
“I know a lot of people do fireworks all over the place but they’re not quality fireworks,” Coward said. “I think the city should do this and participate with business on this.”
“This is a big deal,” said Commissioner Gail Caldwell. “I think splitting between a donor and (and the city) is a good idea. I support it.”
Mayor Bob Minning also supported the idea but suggested parking revenue be directed back to the city to reimburse its expense.
City Manager Reid Silverboard said parking revenue is generally used to pay city expenses related to the large crowds the event draws.
“We made $8,600 (in parking revenue) last Fourth of July,” said Recreation Director Cathy Hayduke. “A lot, if not all, went toward overtime for the police department.”
If approved at the April 20 commission meeting, city officials will use a supplemental budget appropriation for its portion of the funds.
In other action, city commissioners:
• Approved a resolution to adopt the Pinellas County Local Mitigation Strategy developed by the Local Mitigation Strategy Workgroup and conditionally approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The LMS is a county-wide strategy toward a more disaster-resistant community.
• Approved a resolution approving Public Works to increase the Volkert work authorization from $32,290 to $46,280 to cover design work for four new crosswalks planned on Gulf Boulevard. The funds will come out of the $380,000 the city is receiving from the Trustee Council for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a result of a settlement tied to the 1993 Tampa Bay oil spill. The crosswalks, which will be constructed in conjunction with new beach access signage, will be pedestrian-activated and solar-powered.
• Moved forward on a modification of the cooperative funding agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District that organizes a stormwater discharge project on 77th Avenue in Sunset Beach into two phases. The first phase is budgeted this year and the second phase in 2011-12 at a total cost of $513,955, which SWFWMD will pay 50 percent. The project is designed to improve water quality discharge into the Intracoastal Waterway and improve flooding conditions following heavy rainfall.
• Forwarded to the Longterm Planning Agency a proposal by Bildz to modify the city’s animated sign ordinance concerning the length of time messages must be on a screen. The current ordinance calls for a minimum of one minute. Bildz proposed a change to 15 or 20 seconds.
• Voted 3-1 to waive the city’s $250 fee for installing and taking down city banners
• Moved forward on a resolution to accept the comprehensive annual financial report for fiscal year 2008-09 by the Dunedin accounting firm of Davidson, Jamieson and Cristini. Auditors said the city’s finances are in great shape with only $60,000 in debt.
• Moved forward on a resolution by Finance Director Jim Keranen to extend for one year the contract of the accounting firm Davidson, Jamieson and Cristini.
