Letter from St. Pete Beach Regarding COVID-19 Update March 18, 2020

Good evening,

We have made several changes internally and externally to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please click here for methods to help prevent spreading the virus.

City Staff Staggering Shifts, Working Remotely

In an effort to continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the City of St. Pete Beach has created a program for necessary staff to stagger their shifts and work remotely.

All of the directors, clerk’s department, I.T., and city management are working together and have created processes that will ultimately result in working remotely and minimizing human contact. This method will remain in place until further notice.

“Much of what work needs to be done can be done from home”, Alex Rey, City Manager stated. 
The goal is to lessen person to person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, in turn, hopefully slowing down the epidemic.

“We will be processing parking permits and building permits through our website by end of day today.”, Director of Community Development Wesley Wright reported. 

Any hourly staff will not be penalized for not working on premise during this time. Knowing the goal is to minimize human contact, the city has closed the Community Center, Library, and public parks.

The St. Pete Beach Fire Department is staggering shifts and is not open to the public, but they are in our stations ready to protect and serve the St. Pete Beach community.


EVENT CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSURES

The St. Pete Beach Community Center is taking a number of precautions to protect our patrons, volunteers and employees. 

All daily operations including classes, pickleball, fitness room, pool, aquatic classes & trainings, swim lessons and childcare activities have been canceled.  

All Weddings and events on premise through April 2020 have been canceled. All Weddings with more than 10 guests scheduled to take place on the sand of our beaches have been cancelled.

The St. Pete Beach Public Library is closed until further notice.


COMMUNITY EVENT CANCELLATIONS:

  • 3/21 – Great American Cleanup
  • 3/22-4/26- Corey Avenue Sunday Market
  • 3/23 – Lunch N’ Learn
  • 3/29 – Music In the Afternoon
  • 4/11 – Underwater Egg Hunt & Chalk Lit Fair
  • 4/12 – Sunrise Service 
  • 4/15 – Lunch N’ Learn
  • 4/17-4/18 – Beach Goes Pop & Rock
  • 4/18- Salute to the Vets
  • 4/25 – Rock the Block (Pass-A-Grille Park)
  • 4/25- Sportsfest

As this situation is very fluid, we are canceling all events scheduled from today through April 2020. Additional events are subject to cancellation or rescheduling.


PARKING PERMITS

Available Online Only until further Notice available through stpetebeach.org.

Passes and Hand Tags will be mailed to the address provided with three (3) business days.

Permits are not available for Non-Residents of St. Pete Beach.

Residents who OWN their home need to provide a photo of the driver’s license and
current automobile registration.

Residents who LEASE their home must provide proof of residency. 
A photo of the following documents are acceptable forms of proof:
• Current lease agreement;
• Voter Registration card; or
•Current utility bill for service address


TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING DEPTARTMENT

The Transportation and Parking Department is practicing social distancing for public safety. 

As of March 17th, 2020, Transportation and Parking services will be handled through the following procedures: 

To pay a parking ticket:

Please pay online at https://www.parkingticketpayment.com/stpetebeach/or by phone at 1-888-972-0519

To contest a parking ticket please submit a letter to: 

City of St. Pete Beach Processing Center
P.O. Box 2075
Tarrytown, NY 10591-9075


Freebee Shuttle Service: 

Freebee transportation services will continue to operate as routinely scheduled.
For service information please visit http://www.stpetebeach.org/freebee-shuttle.html


Pinellas County suspends water service terminations for 30 days

Utilities department suspends disconnections to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 In the interest of public health and safety in response to the threat of COVID-19, Pinellas County Utilities is suspending all disconnections of water and wastewater service for non-payment – effective immediately for 30 days.  For the safety of our employees, beginning Wednesday, March 18, Utilities department Customer Care offices will be closed to walk-in visitors. Meetings at our facilities will be by appointment only.  

Our Customer Care team will remain available by phone or email. Customers may continue to pay their bills online, by phone at (727) 464-4000 or by mail:

Pinellas County Utilities
P.O. Box 31208
Tampa, FL
33631-3208 

Customers may also place payments in “dropbox” locations:

  • Pinellas County Government Center, 29582 U.S. Hwy 19 N., Clearwater
  • Pinellas County Utilities, 14 South Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater
  • Pinellas County Utilities, GMD, 6730 142nd Ave., Largo
  • City of St. Pete Beach, 155 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach 

Pinellas County Utilities is actively monitoring the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the following statement on March 11, 2020: 

“EPA has established regulations with treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water and wastewater. COVID-19 is a type of virus that is particularly susceptible to disinfection and standard treatment and disinfectant processes are expected to be effective. The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is low. Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.” 

For more information visit, “What You Need to Know About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Pinellas County’s Drinking Water and Wastewater.” 

Updates will be provided on the Pinellas County Utilities webpage as additional information becomes available. For questions, please call (727) 464-4000 or email custsrv@pinellascounty.org.

Information courtesy of Sarah Laracuente, Public Information Officer of City of St. Pete Beach.

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