AUGUST 3, 2018

The City of Largo welcomes you to LARGO TODAY, News from the City Manager. Stay up-to-date on the superior service Largo aims to offer our residents, businesses and homeowners each week.

This Week in Largo
GRANTS AT A GLANCE
The City of Largo recently applied for the following grants and funding opportunities in order to bring new (or continuing) funding into the City.

Applied for a Grant and Awaiting a Decision from the Funder:
  • Engineering: Stormwater Education Project Grants - $1,130 and $3,960
  • Engineering: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program - $1,157,947
Applied for free Technical Assistance and Awaiting a Decision from the Funder:
  • Community Development: Small-Scale Manufacturing and Place-Based Economic Development for the Clearwater Largo Road Community Redevelopment District from Smart Growth America - $25,000 to $40,000  
- Cheryl Coller Reed
Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 586-7452 I creed@largo.com


2018 POINT IN TIME HOMELESS CENSUS DATA RELEASED
The Pinellas Homeless Leadership Board recently released the 2018 Point in Time (PIT) Homeless Census d ata. The PIT is required by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides information on the homeless population countywide. The PIT report, "Analysis of Pinellas County Point in Time (PIT) Data from 2015 to 2018 , " analyzes trend s in the homeless population and is available at www.largo.com/housing under the "Documents"/"Resources" section on the web page.
 
According to HUD's definition of homelessness, which includes sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons, 2,612 persons were homeless countywide in 2018. This represents an approximately 7.7% decrease from the 2,831 homeless persons reported in 2017. During the 2018 census, 39 respondents reported that they mainly stay in Largo, compared to 38 respondents in 2017. Although the number of homeless individuals remained steady in Largo, the percentage of respondents increased from 3.4% to 4.2% as the overall countywide homeless population declined in 2018.  
 
Overall, a total of 6,216 homeless persons were identified countywide in 2018 including: those meeting the HUD definition; other individuals identified through the street survey (such as individuals who are "couch surfing"); and jail and school system data. The 2018 chronically homeless population of 417 persons represents a decrease of approximately 34% since 2015. Over the past four years, the number of homeless veterans declined from 589 in 2015 to 281 in 2018 (52% decline).
   
- Carol Stricklin
Community Development Department Director I 586-7490 I cstrickl@largo.com


BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDER
Chief Jeff Undestad reminds everyone that with the opening of the school year on August 13, 2018, there will be an increase of children walking along the streets and riding bikes to and from school. Chief Undestad advises that traffic will be heavy on the first day of school and asks that you take extra care coming to work. Remember that traffic in both directions must stop for stopped school buses on roadways without raised medians. Largo Police Officers will be actively enforcing the speed limits posted in school zones. The police department will continue to support state traffic campaigns throughout the year including the ongoing Click it or Ticket Campaign. Emphasis will also continue on pedestrian and bicycle safety to reduce fatal traffic incidents. Be sure to be on the look out and drive carefully.

-Jeff Undestad
Police Chief I 587-6707 I jundesta@largo.com
MEETING AND EVENT UPDATES
ALTERNATE US 19 CULTURAL CORRIDOR PLAN COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
On July 31st, Community Development staff joined Vice-Mayor Smith, Commissioner Robinson, and staff from Engineering Services, Communications and Marketing and Recreation, Parks and Arts in attending a joint community workshop, hosted by Forward Pinellas and Creative Pinellas. The workshop was focused on the creation of a Cultural Corridor Plan to link destinations along Alternate U.S. 19. A Cultural Corridor is a geographic area that features and connects multiple arts and cultural attractions, creating a magnet for entertainment, tourism, and urban revitalization. Forward Pinellas and Creative Pinellas have partnered to study the existing cultural aspects of Alternate U.S. 19 to understand the existing strengths of the corridor and opportunities for improvement. Invited to attend the meetings were artists, business owners, residents, planners, and anyone who has an interest in turning Alternate U.S. 19 into a Cultural Corridor for Pinellas County. The purpose of the workshop was to review the goals and objectives of the project, participate in a charrette to identify the assets of the Alternate US 19 corridor, and share ideas to make the corridor even better. Some highlights of the ideas from the small groups included creating a unified identity or name for the corridor, artist-in-residence programs, way finding, programming partnership opportunities between the municipalities that span the corridor, safety improvements, beautification, public art, place making, sponsorships and grants. The six-month study process has included community workshops and focus group interviews, and will culminate in a final report and presentation, with the intent to use as leverage for a variety of national arts and related cultural grants. More information can be found at   http://creativepinellas.org/cultural-corridor.
 
- Carol Stricklin
Community Development Department Director I 586-7490 I cstrickl@largo.com
 
NATIONAL CITY HALL SELFIE DAY
August 15th is National City Hall Selfie Day, a day designed to showcase local government, employees and volunteers. The organization that runs the event, Engaging Local Government Leaders, will select winners in various categories such as most people in a selfie, funniest, best celebrity ,  or news reporter participation. If your schedule permits, we hope that you will join us at the City Hall sign on the lawn of City Hall at 1:15 sharp on August 15 th for our group selfie. The picture will just take a few minutes.
 
If you cannot make it to event, please feel free to take a selfie within your own department or facility and email it to marketing@largo.com on that day. City Hall Selfie Day is a way to boost community pride, put our work on display and have fun in a friendly competition with other municipalities. Last year we had a great City Hall Selfie Day with a lot of participation by various departments and city leadership.

 - Brenda Clark
Community Outreach Coordinator I 587-6740 I bclark@largo.com

HIGH POINT BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR
On July 29th, outreach staff from Administration, Largo Fire Rescue, Largo Public Library and Sustainability engaged with over 1,000 family members at the annual Back to School Fair at the High Point Neighborhood Family Center. In addition to over 700 free haircuts, backpacks and back-to-school supplies provided by the center, community members were provided with information about available city resources and good contacts for various opportunities.
- Brenda Clark
Community Outreach Coordinator I 587-6740 I bclark@largo.com