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My fellow residents,
I am thrilled to announce that our long-awaited beach nourishment project will begin in late August or early September. As many of you know, beach nourishment has been a significant focus of mine since I first took office in 2019, and I am proud to see our collective efforts pay off. Importantly, the county’s Tourist Development Tax (Bed Tax), not your property or sales taxes, fully funds this project. I sincerely thank the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners for listening to our concerns and making this critical work a reality. I also want to thank key county staff like Kelli Leavy, John Bishop, and Barry Burton for their partnership and candid discussions.
As the project proceeds, we ask for your patience. For everyone’s protection, the contractor will temporarily close active construction zones on the beach. They will reopen these areas section by section as soon as conditions are safe. I especially want to commend our beachfront residents. Your patience and foresight have been essential. Securing 100% of our property easements years ago was the key that unlocked this opportunity, and it is because of your commitment our city is fully prepared for this work.
Please know that our neighboring town of Belleair Shore will not receive direct nourishment, as it does not have the required public access to qualify. However, natural sand migration from our project and Indian Rocks Beach will gradually deposit sand along their shoreline, which provides an indirect benefit and some protection to the properties behind this gap. This one-time, county-funded project is a monumental win for our city. We will continue to advocate for a reliable, long-term federal solution, but for now, we can celebrate the restoration of our beach, the heart of our community.
Mayor Gattis
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