Aerial of Pinellas County looking from downtown Saint Petersburg Florida

The Wave

Your Pinellas County Government Newsletter

December 2024

A glance at people, programs & news around the county!

Important Storm Updates for Residents in Unincorporated Pinellas County

As our community continues to recover from the recent hurricanes, we have some important new tools and updates to support you along the way.

New Text Line for Storm Updates

You can now keep up to date with program deadlines and new announcements for County residents by texting the word “RECOVER” to 888777.

Substantial Damage Letters Now Available Online

Unincorporated residents can now download their initial substantial damage assessment letter as soon as it has been completed. We will continue adding letters as the assessments are finished daily, so if your address doesn't come up, check back the next day. Remember these are initial assessments only. You may submit additional information for a detailed assessment.

Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services has been actively processing permits with no fees for most properties in unincorporated Pinellas, with over 1,400 storm-related permits issued since the hurricanes. For more information on storm permitting, visit Pinellas.gov/stormpermits.

Debris Cleanup

The first pass of residential storm debris removal in Unincorporated Pinellas County has concluded. Since October, more than 637,000 cubic yards of storm debris has been hauled in Unincorporated Pinellas County. The second and final pass is ongoing. Learn more about storm debris removal.

Reopening Beloved Pinellas County Parks

At Fort De Soto Park, the causeway, boat ramp, Campground Area 3, and East Beach are ready to welcome visitors once again. John S. Taylor Park and War Veterans Park are fully open, while Sand Key Park and Indian Shores (Tiki Gardens) Beach Access will reopen on Saturday, Dec. 21. Read the latest on Pinellas County park reopenings.

Brian Scott to lead County Commission in 2025

Commissioner Brian Scott has been chosen as Chair and Dave Eggers as Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners for 2025. Scott is the current Vice-Chair and represents at-large District 2. Eggers represents District 4.

The Chair leads meetings and work sessions, represents the Board at community events, coordinates commissioner Board assignments and more.

The Board also welcomed two newly elected Board members in November. Commissioner Chris Scherer represents at-large District 1, and Commissioner Vince Nowicki represents at-large District 3.

BCC votes to move forward with Rays deal

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a supplemental bond resolution and approved the form of documents for the financing of a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

In a 5-2 vote, the Board agreed to move the stadium deal forward, with recognition that the Rays must meet specific criteria by March 31, 2025, for bonds to be issued. The Board held the line on previously agreed-to terms and requested continued project updates moving forward so both the Board and residents can stay informed about progress.

Celebrate the spirit of the season at Holiday Lights in the Gardens

The Florida Botanical Gardens has transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland with the return of its Holiday Lights in the Gardens event, nightly through Jan. 4, from 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Recently named one of the nation’s top botanical light displays by USA Today, the event features more than one million sparkling lights, illuminating the gardens with festive colors, shimmering displays and holiday cheer.

The event is free and open to all, offering a vibrant setting for family outings, romantic evenings or a fun night out with friends and coworkers. Donations are kindly suggested to support the gardens.

Holiday Lights in the Gardens promotional video

Managing Your Mind During the Holidays

The holiday season can bring a unique set of challenges with 64% of people with mental illness sharing holidays make their conditions worse. Understanding and managing these seasonal struggles is important for maintaining mental well-being and truly enjoying the essence of the holidays. Check out Care About Me's tips for managing your mind during the holidays.

And remember, if you need help and support, but you’re not sure where to go, Care About Me can help eliminate the guesswork. Call or text “CARE” to 1-888-431-1998 to find support today.

Holiday and Gift Giving Guide

Want to be on the "Nice" list this year? As you celebrate this holiday season, take a look at our Holiday and Gift-Giving Guide for tips on holiday recycling, eco-friendly gift giving and disposing of your Christmas tree after the holidays.

Employee Bike Drive Brightens the Holidays

During the holiday season, Pinellas County staff provides bikes and helmets to children in the community through the Annual Employee Bike Drive. This year, employees donated $7,700 which was used to purchase 41 bicycles and helmets. Watch the video below to see the bikes being loaded up to be delivered.