February Message

We are starting off the year with a full plate of projects and issues to consider. The February meeting will include setting the priorities for the year, an update on the biggest project in our history – the Pinellas Living Green Expo, Council member Jamie Bennett will tell us about a plan that people have worked on for two years to deal with the problem of homelessness in Pinellas County and finally, we will discuss a contentious rezoning proposal on 66th Street.

This is the second year that we have brainstormed ideas at the January meeting and voted in February on the agenda for the year. I like the process because it is open, democratic and allows people to consider the range of issues before settling on a smaller list of priorities. The minutes of the January meeting, printed elsewhere in the newsletter, has the list that people suggested. Please take a look at these and be prepared to set priorities at the meeting.

The Pinellas Living Green Expo is moving along quickly. We are in the stage of organizing the event, soliciting sponsors, vendors and presenters for the information sessions. Frankly, I have never worked on a project where the response was so positive! We believe we will have an expo that will be a big draw and provide people with the kind of information to change how they use electricity, gas and water and save money. It is a perfect symbol of thinking globally and acting locally. We will happily accept volunteers to do the early work to make this a huge success.

Homelessness is a nationwide problem. Council member Jamie Bennett worked as part of a homelessness task force for the last two years to develop a plan to make a real difference on an issue that seems overwhelming. Please come and listen to the ideas.

Finally, we will finish discussing the proposed rezoning on 66th St. between 9th & 13th Ave N. The Sembler Company has a proposal for this property. The four closest neighborhood associations are heavily engaged in the pro’s and con’s on the project as well. The only thing I ask is for neighbors to discuss the issue without personal attacks. It is obvious that many people feel strongly about the proposal and CONA is happy to provide a forum for the issue. However, next month there will be other issues to deal with.

Our goal is simple: to make the neighborhoods of St. Petersburg a great place to live and leave to the next generation.

Karl Nurse
President
Council of Neighborhood Associations