GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
of the
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Chairman
Edmund J. Cenedella
Co—Chairman
Sally Saron
Bernard C. Paul
Wade Yeakle, Jr.
Susan Gordon
Nancye Barrett
William Fillmore
Donnie Williams
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—
Final Report
Education Committee
Goals for St. Petersburg
June 2, 1972
During the past six months, the Education Committee has been meetin
g
on a bi—weekly basis in an attempt to develop goals and recommendations concer
n
ing the various elements of education in our City’s future.
In considering possible participation of the City in the educational
pro
cess, the Committee has kept in mind that the prime responsibility and
control
of our formal education lies with the officials of the State and County
school
systems. For this reason, many recommendations of this Committee can
be
achieved only through cooperation of those persons and agencies
presently
charged with administering our school systems.
Goals
The goals and recommendations of the Education Committee are
built upon
cooperation between the City, County and State in the educat
ional processes.
As our primary goal, it is recommended that duplication of effort
and of public
facilities be eliminated. For example, both the school system and
the City
operate transportation 1
systems libraries and recreational programs in their
respective areas. Many of these systems, as well as other
efforts, should be
consolidated, improving the quality of these services. At the
same time, con
siderable savings would be afforded the taxpayer. We can
no longer afford the
luxury of duplication!
It is, therefore, the recommendation of this Committee that
the City
become a prime mover toward the joint—use concept, urging
a spirit of cooper
ation among the multi—levels of educational responsibility
. Furthermore, it
is recommended that the City continuously promote the awaren
ess of educational
opportunities and their advantages.
Some of the ways in which the City can readily assist
in moving toward
the goals of joint—use and awareness are:
Recommendations
1. Provide community and neighborhood centers for the
use of citizens in
furthering their education. Many of our citizens
who would desire to further
their education for one reason or another are not
able to find transportation
to the established educational facilities in our
City. For example, St. Peters
burg Junior College has advised this Committee
that should sufficient persons
be interested in a particular course or subjec
t that they would provide a pro—
fessor for such a course at any location in the City.
Possibilities which come
to mind here would include such course areas
as real estate, personal finance,
home repair, personal hygiene, and other offerin
gs which would be of a direct,
immediate benefit to the participants.
2. Assist in promoting the offerings of the various
technical schools,
junior colleges, and other educational facilities
throughout the community.
I
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This can be achieved by the City through such means as including information on
educational programs in the fliers which often accompany the City’s monthly
utility billings.
3. Establish a data bank from the rolls of the faculties of the various
educational facilities in the area of those persons with specialized abilities
who could assist public undertakings. Valuable expertise exists on the campuses
of our educational institutions and would quite probably be available for the
asking. In addition to the financial savings which could be gained through the
use of these persons and their skills, this system would have the secondary
advantage of increasing the participation of our citizens in civic affairs, and
therefore, having them become more aware of the workings of their local govern
ment.
4. Investigate ways of taking advantage of the vast amount of professional
and technical expertise that exists with those persons in the retired segment of
our community. Finding useful tasks for these persons in supportive services in
City and school efforts, such as volunteer recreational supervisors, handi—craft
teachers, tour guides, day—care center volunteers and similar activities, would
serve not only to save tax monies, but could have positive psychological benefits
for the participants.
5. Initiate a search for ways and means to expand the present nursery and
day—care facilities. Special consideration should be given to the needs of
children from low income families and those children with learning disabilities
in the search for assistance for these day—care programs. An example of some
thing immediate and positive which the City could do in this vein would be to
survey the neighborhood needs for day—care centers, locate available facilities,
and then make such information available to persons responsible for implementa
tion of such programs.
6. Initiate and support a continuing program of consumer education. While
City Council has seen fit to establish an Office of Consumer Affairs, it is the
consensus of this Committee that many of our citizens are unaware of the laws
and regulations that protect their interest in the purchasing of goods and ser
vices. It would seem quite likely that the Office of Consumer Affairs, in
conjunction with St. Petersburg Junior College and the State Department of
Consumer Affairs, could offer programs in consumer awareness at various public
facilities.
7. Meet with officials of other municipalities, the County School System
and representatives of the various cable television companies in order to plan
for the best possible educational use of the cable television systems in our
area. One suggestion would be to offer a review of basic subject matter for
given grade levels at specific times of the day and evening. This would enable
bedridden students or those unable to attend class for other reasons to keep up
with their subjects, as well as offering review for those who had been in attend
ance that day. It is further recommended that City Council should immediately
appoint an advisory committee to fully study the programming potential of CATV
for the educational benefit of the community.
8. Encourage the continuation and expansion of drug education programs
similar to the federally—funded drug education programs offered in Pinellas
schools during the 1971—72 school year.
—39. Encourage continuation and expansion of the federally—fu
nded human
relations education program similar to the one curre
ntly in operation in Pinellas
County.
It is further recommended that the following
actions be taken by City
Council:
1. Pass and distribute resolutions recogniz
ing the increasing need for
vocational training in order that the best
possible technical services be
available to St. Petersburg’s residents
in the future, keeping in mind the
cost
liness of duplicating programs.
2. Continue to support the existence
and future expansion of the marine
research facilities at Bayboro Harbor.
This facility monitors the quality of
our water resources, experiments with
new sources of food and provides a uniq
ue
educational opportunity for persons
interested in marine science.
3. That the City Administration be directed to give
further studr to the
Library Plan as adopted by City Cou
ncil on February 20, 1964.
Respectfully submitted,
Edmund J. Cenedella, Chairman
Education Committee
STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF FLORIDA
INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY
830 First Street, South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
Phone (813) 896-5197
July 24, 1972
General Theodore J. Conway, Ret.
Chairman of the Executive Committee
Goals for St. Petersburg
City Hall, Fifth Street North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
U
Re:
Environmental Protection Goals Committee
Dear General Conway:
[J
The Environmental Protection Goals Committee has held eighteen meetings
from July 27, 1971, through July 5, 1972. In addition to the aforestated
two hour meetings normally held every other Wednesday afternoon from
two to four o’clock, a substantial amount of time has been spent by the
individual members of the subject committee in conducting certain types
of selected research in the development of source materials for the
committee’s deliberations and the subsequent preparation of the attached
final report.
We respectfully submit, as the final report of the Environmental
Protection Goals Committee, the attached document for the consideration
of the City Council of the City of St. Petersburg, as the Executive
Committee, under your chairmanship, deems appropriate.
Speaking on behalf of the members of the Environmental Protection Goals
Committee, it has been a privilege and a pleasure for us to have parti
cipated in proposing immediate and long-term goals for our City. And
at this time, we want to express our appreciation for the assistance
and participation of the many persons within the City administration
and associated with same who have enabled us to draft the attached
document.
Respectfully submitted,
Committee Members:
Robert E. Smith
Chairman
Environmental Protection Goals Committee
Dr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Ms.
Dr.
RE S / ah/ha
John Betz
Frank Bird
Craig Cochrane
Harold Leadbetter
Winfield Lott
George Reid
University of Fkr4a
Florida State University
Florida A. & M. University
University of South Florida
Florida Atlantic Unive
Caine., vile
Tallahassee
Tallahassee
Tampa
Boca Raton
University of West Florida
Florida Technological University
University of North Florida
Florida
International
University
p
FINAL REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Based on combined first report and statement by Craig P.
at Council on May 9, with modifications.
Cochrane
“Most persons think that a state, in order to be happy ought to be large;
but even if they are right, they have no idea of what is a large and what
To the size of states there is a limit, as there is to
is a small state
other things, plants, animals, implements; for none of these retain their
power when they are too large or too small, but they wholly lose their
Aristotle 322 B.C.
nature or are spoiled”
——
—
I.
—
-
The ultimate and guiding principle of this Committee is the main
tenance,
protection and improvement of the quality of human life of the
people who reside in or visit this city now and in the future.
We believe
this goal can be achieved only by preserving the natural ecology of this
area.
It must be understood that efforts to preserve the natural ecology
are made for the purpose of preserving the quality of human life.
not a choice between people and environment.
It is
It is through preservation
of environment that people benefit.
2.
Environment is not passive or static,
people.
It may change of itself,
people.
In fact,
but is an active influence on
but usually is changed by the acts of
the greatest changes and the most far—reaching are
or lack of it,
has affected or
brought about by man himself.
His wisdom,
will affect his own well being.
It is vital to remember this and to consider
the effects when proposing or causing changes in the environment.
3.
We consider the primary function of this committee is to take account
of changes which have occurred or may occur of a nature adverse to
the quality of life of this community and to try to correct such conditions
by recommending courses of action to responsible officials to improve the
quality of the environment and to anticipate future problems.
—2—
4.
We recognize that we presently enjoy one of the highest material
standards of living in history and that many factors are at work to
improve our already enviable condition.
life in St.
We believe that conditions of
Petersburg are superior to those in many other communi
ties and that greater effort has been made here to plan constructively.
Nevertheless,
and,
—
St.
we recognize that the overall quality of the environment
consequently, the overall quality of human life in the
City
of
Petersburg and in the rest of Florida is declining now and will
continue to do so unless remedial measures are taken.
5.
While there is grave cause for concern,
there is no need for
panic or hysteria because the condition can be changed if we have the
will to do so.
It is essential,
however,
that the fact of our declining
quality of life be honestly and publicly recognized and that the public be
educated to the fact that the situation is not presently under control.
While alarmists on the one side create a hysteria which paralyzes
correction of our problems,
the soothing assurances of the other ex
treme that nothing is wrong or that everything is under control lulls
legitimate public concern into a stupor which will not support the difficult
and courageous remedial steps necessary.
—
6.
We believe that the fundamental cause for the decline in the quality
of life has been an excessive and artificially rapid increase in the popula—
tion of this area in recent years.
This has been accompanied by the
allowing of practices to continue which may not have been harmful in
the case of a small population but which are wholly unsatisfactory under
—
-I
present conditions.
There has been too much tendency to get property
—3--
“on the tax rolls” with complete indifference as to the services that
such properties would require in the future or how the effort to sup
ply such services might affect life elsewhere in the community.
Technology has been extolled as the answer to all problems and at the
same time has not been properly utilized.
7.
We think it a serious error to accept artificially stimulated growth
and stretch facilities to the breaking point to try to accomodate it.
the contrary,
To
we should take all proper means available to fit growth
to the facilities we can supply and maintain an acceptable quality of
life.
We take issue with the statement sometimes made that the only
obligation of the City administration is to provide facilities for all citi
r
zens,
no matter how many.
We think there is an equal obligation to
plan to avoid blind and uncontrolled growth which will intensify our
problems and which will destroy the amenities which St.
have a right to expect.
Petersburg
We cannot and do not want to pro—
citizens
hibit people from coming here as long as the established density is not
exceeded.
We can insist
that the quality of life here be not impaired.
We owe this to those living here and to those who come here.
8.
We believe that intelligently controlled growth will benefit the
economic stability of the City.
We do not advocate zero growth,
do we now propose any sudden or radical cessation of building.
believe
nor
We
that an understood program of control will permit better planning
of building activity with less abrupt peaks and valleys.
We believe that
the past system of zoning and practices with regard to changes
in zon—
ing
1
have been an invitation to excessive activity and excessive density
-4—
which has been detrimental,
and unjust to individual citizens and which,
if carried on much longer, would result in a real crisis because of
We are convinced that far from creating an eco
out—running facilities.
nomic crisis now,
moderate controls will avoid one occurring later.
Such a crisis would be the inability to supply water of a quality and
quantity to which people are accustomed or inability to take care of
I-,
waste disposal.
There are definite instances now where uncontrolled
building has been allowed to outrun sewage facilities and the result has
been the complete discontinuance of any building whatsoever.
ness Week”
County,
of October 2,
Pennsylvania,
1971 cites Miami,
and Chicago.
San Erancisco,
In our own area,
Bucks
Redington
Shores and North Redington Beach have been forbidden by the State
to permit further sewer connections until the disposal system meets
State requirements;
and Tarpon Springs is voluntarily restricting con
nections because of inadequate sewer facilities.
St.
Petersburg Beach
has suspended sewer connections and a number of other communities
The immediate policy of the State
are faced with similar problems.
with regard to enforcement of statutory requirements limiting discharge
into
the bays is not yet clear,
legislature.
but there is no doubt of the intent of the
The eventual result
-
—
a prohibition of inadequately treated
and possibly any discharge of effluent into the bays.
We believe it
would be the height of folly to stand quiescent and allow a trend to be
continued which would permit this acute problem to develop in St.
-ì
burg.
Ij
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Peters—
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SPECIFIC PROPOSALS AND COMMENTS
9.
The existing trend and rate of growth is such that prompt action
is required to avoid future difficulties.
We believe this is the greatest
single source of condition adverse to the quality of life.
We believe that
the most satisfactory immediate means of control lies in reducing the
densities permitted under past zoning regulations.
plete answer,
but a good first step.
This is not a corn-.
We strongly endorse the action
of the Council in its recognition of the need of action by the enactment
of Ordinance 292.-E although we would have preferred the original
proposal of the City Administration which was developed after exten
sive study and would have effected a somewhat greater reduction.
Objections have been made to these measures on the grounds
that they are unnecessary and that the population of the City is “level
We consider these objections unfounded,
ing off.”
have been made,
but because they
we present the following to indicate this committee’s
reasons for approval.
The statement that population is leveling off
is based on figures for the period from 1960 to 1970 without reference
to subsequent years when there was an obvious and large increase in
rate.
Information of the situation since January,
1970,
is particularly
important and significant because there has been a marked increase in
population compared with the average of the preceding ten years.
fact is,
that from April I,
by 7,945,
or 3.7 percent.
the period of 1960 to 1970.
1970,
to April I,
1971,
The
the population increased
This compares with 1.9 percent average for
It is about double the rate of the 1960’s.
:
•
—6—
And from April I,
11,477,
1971, to April I,
or more than 5 percent.
increase.
the estimated increase is
In number of people this is about
4,000 more than the year before.
about 20,000 in two years.
1972,
A total increase of population of
Building permits show a similar rate
For the first four months of the year,
mits, 48 multi—family permits with 790 units;
72 multi—family permits with 890 units;
1970 had 2,143 per
1971 had 2,622 permits,
1972 had 2,714 permits,
89
multi—family permits vAth 1,152 units.
There are certain aspects of utility services which signal neces
sity for control.
sewer system.
One of the most important is the capacity of our
We are fortunate in having efficient treatment plants,
superior to those of many other communities.
is to be commended for its initiative in the
The city administration
experiment of effluent spray
irrigation and for storm water injection into wells.
A complication is
the contracts whereby the City accepts sewage from Gulfport,
Pasadena, and Bear Creek.
South
These were entered into years ago and
unfortunately have no provision for increase of rates as City costs go
up and no limitation on the amount of sewage.
We realize efforts are
being made to correct this and more favorable rates have been agreed
upon.
It is to be hoped that agreement may be reached on limiting the
flow from these communities.
The point
of greatest concern is the
estimate that the system will reach capacity in about four years.
This
estimate is based on a population increase averaging not more than
10,000 per year.
Operation in excess of rated capacity means both
backup and overflow and also discharge of inadequately treated sewage.
j
-7-
to question the strin
There seems to be a tendency Tn some quarters
gency of requirements in discharge into our bays,
to say nothing of the health and
with our reliance on tourist trade,
pleasure of permanent residents,
but anyone familiar
is mad to oppose measures to keep
our beaches and bays clean.
At this point it is well to note,
which some people seem to ignore,
that any large project for increase of sewage facilities
ply
is likely to involve a bond issue.
or water sup
Engineering experts sometimes
say that there is no condition of this kind wherein they cannot plan
facilities to meet it,
provided by magic.
but cost is another matter.
Such facilities are not
If a bond issue is required, there is likely to be
a referendum required for it.
service and amortization,
But in any case
the cost,
including debt
falls in large measure on those who are
already residents of the community.
There
is a similar problem in connection with water.
The
tion
present potable water supply under SWPWMD regulation after connec
J
with the Pasco field is estimated to supply about 290,000 people.
hope it will be possible to find further sources,
We
but there is a question
as to what SWEWMD will authorize for additional wells.
We are not
the only community drawing on the aquifer and at present our general
area,
including other counties,
is using from one—third to one—half
annually of the replenishment rate of the aquifer.
Once we exceed the
replenishment rate we mine the aquifer and eventually salt water incur
sion will result.
—8—
We are told there is no lack of water,
rounded by water.
This,
of course,
This may be an eventual necessity,
‘J
‘
The cost would be high,
-
It
both for processing plants and for equi
pment
The actual day—to—day processing will
involve
In addition to this and arnonc
other problems is that of disposal of the
salt removed.
As far as we
there is not yet a satisfactory answer to
this in connection with
large—scale operation.
The crux of the water problem is the
extremely large amount used
for industrial purposes.
‘J
but it is certainly a last resort,
a considerably higher cost to the consumer.
know,
.J
implies salt water conversion.
would not improve our quality of life and there
are serious difficulties.
and for transmission lines.
‘J
‘
the peninsula being sur
It is estimated that over 90 percent
of all water
drawn from the acquifer is for industria
l use and less than 10 percent
for domestic consumption.
It is ironical that cities may have to
restrict
domestic water use because of the high
use by industry.
We believe
that means should be found to reduce the
industrial demand by the develop
ment of improved methods.
Senator Jackson
—
To paraphrase a recent quote attrib
uted to
we believe that “A nation that can fly men
to the
can develop better and less wasteful meth
ods of water use in industry.
We urge Council to use all means in
its power to have SWEWMD insist
on action in this direction.
In addition to these factors,
tangible,
there are other considerations less
more difficult to evaluate,
waste disposal,
but of great importance,
power supply, traffic congestion,
such as solid
parking problems,
9—
tection,
schools, fire and police pro
logical effects of crowding.
the quality of life in St.
psycho
and many others including the
in maintaining
These are highly significant
Petersburg.
d
If one will imagine having crowde
experience
tially worse than what we now
conditions all year long substan
do.
what e>essive growth can
in the winter, one can understand
ed as
n figure of 300,000 was stat
Within recent months, a populatio
10.
being desirable for St.
Petersburg.
it.
it may be too late to accomplish
We would agree with this although
At the other extreme the very
ed
ble was 500,000, which is view
highest figure mentioned as accepta
by
mittee of the Goals and apparently
favorably by the Land Use Com
limits.
some others who have opposed any
This would be more than
esir
our opinion would be highly und
twice the present population and in
inal city administration proposal
It is to be noted, however, the orig
able,
,
mitted about 400,000 population and
or density reduction would have per
er City Planning Commission and
the compromise offered by the form
It is apparent from this how ex
,000.
approved by Council will be 440
ulations are.
tremely mild the new density reg
The present ordinance
further
to avoid a runaway situation until
must be regarded as a stop—gap
s four years during
We shall have a period of perhap
plans can be made.
specifically on sewage and water.
which plans will have to be made
pointed out in a March 27 memo
The Public Works Department has
er Planning Commission that “the
and April 4 presentation to the form
d of
ely that a major redesign is require
density has increased so extensiv
system.
the approximately 20,000 lines in the
The sewerage system
ept for extensions to the trunk
h
studied in 1963 hasn’t changed muc exc
-
lines which existed.
10
—
m, however,
The service area which feeds the syste
hborhoods to high density urban sprawl.”
has changed from low density neig
g every possible means to adapt to the new con-.
This report advised “usin
last eight years.”
ditions that have been imposed over the
Obviously, a
general overhaul is necessary.
We believe the Environmental
Planning and Development Commission
ts and direction of growth to
should pursue an intensive study of the effec
be——whether density should be
determine what the future course should
ods of zoning should be employed.
changed further and whether any meth
11.
C of a general policy on
We urge the establishment by the EPD
zoning,
site plans and allied matters.
We believe that whenever an
increase density, the burden
application is made for rezoning which will
rate that the change will
of proof should be upon the applicant to demonst
d primarily on what the
be in the general public interest and not be base
financial benefit will be to the applicant.
lowed in other allied matters.
Similar criteria should be fol
We believe the Commission should review
whether there are specific
action taken in recent months to determine
problems connected with zoning;
site plans;
or building construction which
ications.
might be considered in connection with future appl
Consideration
th of time which must elapse
should be given to the question of the leng
g previously denied.
before a new application is made f or somethin
We
Development Commission
suggest also that the Environmental Planning and
and environmental problems,
take steps to inform the public of its progress
proper course to follow in
and to make it clear to individual citizens the
making any appeals on zoning or site plans.
—
12.
11
—
We have already expressed our endorsement of the experiment
being carried on by the Department of Public Works with respect to
certain irrigation use of secondary effluent and for storm water injection
into deep wells.
We are pleased that these are being done under close
and competent supervision
as many scientists seem
to have increased
concern about the possibility of pollution of the aquifer, particularly by
viruses.
We believe that continuing intensive study should be made with
the ultimate objective of the use of tertiary treatment to promote the re
use of water and discontinuance of any discharge into the bays.
We
fully appreciate the fact that the present city system is better than that
of most neighborhing communities.
We can understand hesitancy to
carry it further when the bays are polluted from other sources.
apparent,
however,
It is
that advanced methods will be required by State
and Federal authorities and that other communities will be obliged to
conform.
St.
Furthermore,
it cannot be denied that advanced treatment by
Petersburg will vastly improve the quality of water in the Boca Ciega
and Tampa Bay area.
We strongly endorse current consideration by
the City Council looking toward this objective and with the pursuit of
availability of Federal funds to accomplish a meaningful testing program.
13.
We urge discontinuance of all efforts to attract new residents and
that no further appropriation of city funds be used for this purpose.
particular, we urge no advertising at Disneyland.
In
We think there will
be plenty of movement here without stimulant.
14.
Census figures indicate that the permanent population of St.
burg remains fairly constant and the increase
Peters
is due to immigration.
We
-12-
recommend that all agencies encouraging new business in coming to the
area endeavor to persuade them as far as possible to recruit their staffs
from local residents.
15.
We urge cooperation with Florida Power in any practicable action
to conserve electric power.
j
‘
We believe also that a study should be
made as to the possibility of changing the rate structure by raising
rates
instead of lowering them as increased power is used.
The State of
North Carolina is currently considering this.
16.
We recommend that a study be made to determine the advisa
bility
of development of a tax or fee schedule requiring developers
to assume
such expenses as are now borne by the City resulting from
new con
—
struction.
We believe that the homestead exemption is no longer justifie
d and
I?.
should be eliminated although it should be continued in the
case of those
already qualified f or it.
Since it is established by State law, we recom
mend that the matter be presented to the Pinellas legislative
delegation.
lB.
We recognize the fact that St.
can do individually.
Petersburg is limited as to what it
We urge that further effort be made to secure the
cooperation of Pinellas and neighboring counties especially
as to a pro
gram of land use and eventually effect a state—wide plan.
only way a really effective plan can be developed.
This is the
Should Council agree
to accept the recommendations of this committee, they
might serve as a
starting point for mutual action.
action as is advisable be taken.
In any event, we urge that such local
—
13
—
We urge that every effort be made to assure that the well field
19.
areas
or any immediate area which may influence quality or quantity
of water in the aquifer be protected and preserved in the interest of
a
continuing source of potable water supply.
these lands could contaminate the aquifer,
Improper development of
or improper development
could drain the surface water and reduce local recharge
.
Methods to
insure against the two possibilities should be vigorously sought
.
Finally, we reiterate that we do not now advocate zero growth
,
but rather controlled growth.
In our considered judgment we believe
that continuance of the practice of little or no effort at contro
l and the
belief that the answer to rapid and excessive growth
is to be found in
the mere provision of additional facilities will bring proble
ms of a most
serious nature.
It will accelerate the deterioration of the quality of
life in this community,
and among specific problems will be that of
sewage disposal and of the amount and quality of potabl
e water.
growth continues at the present rate,
will be inadequate.
If
limitation on domestic use of water
This would require,
under sanitary regulations of
the State, complete prohibition of further sewage connec
tions.
it would stop all building until facilities are increased
.
In turn,
This is the
precise situation now existing in many communities,
even in our own
area as pointed out earlier in this report.
In order to increase facili
ties, financing will be required and present residen
ts would be asked to
meet this charge f or the benefit of those moving into
the community.
We
believe that merrily continuing past indifference to
this problem and mini
mizing its potential will result in a crisis of major
proportions.
FLORIDA
PRESBYTERIAN
COLLEGE
k& •JI
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33733 —0-- P. 0.
BOX 12560
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May 22, 1972
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—
General Theodore I. Conway
(Rtd.)
Chairman Executive Committe
e
Goals for St. Petersburg
City Hall
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
Dear General Conway:
I am pleased to enclose the
final report for the Governm
ental Affairs
Committee of the Goals for St.
Petersburg. The final report
and supporting
documents spell out in detail
our committee’s deliberation
s and conclusions.
On behalf of the entire com
mittee I want to thank you,
the Mayor and
City Council for creating the
Goals project, and for afford
ing our committee
members the opportunity of ser
ving the city and surrounding
communities.
Our Committee hopes that the
Goals’ Executive Committee
and City Council
will study closely the rep
ort and recommendation of the
Governmental
Affairs Committee.
Also, on behalf of the com
mittee I wish to commend the
city staff in
particular Mr. Matthew Bu
fwack for its help and suppor
t throughout
the undertaking of our commi
ttee.
—
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Thank you for the opportunity
to serve.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Stewart
Vice President, College
Relations
RBS: mdm
enclosure
ON JULY 1, 1972FLORIDA PRF
SflYTFRIAN CO I F
Wil I
D’’”’
FINAL REPORT
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
FOREWORD
The Governmental Affairs Committee of the Goals for St.
At an
Petersburg met thirteen (13) times since November, 1971.
early session the Committee defined its mission as being that of
“reviewing existing governmental structure, organization coordina
tion and relationship to surrounding governmental agencies and
formulating recommendations for the Goals executive committee
relating to an overall governmental structure which best meets the
needs and delivers the services to the citizens of St. Petersburg
its environs.”
and
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Throughout its deliberations the committee was aware of
the somewhat parallel mission of the County Charter Commission
and we did make contact with a representative of that Commission,
Mr. Hulan Whitehead.
The Committee hopes that its final report
will receive favorable consideration not only by the Goals Steering
Committee and City Council, but also the Charter Commission.
The Governmental Affairs Committee members contributing
to our seven month project included:
John 0. Bell, Professor, University of South Florida
A. W. Eustes, Businessman, A. W. Eustes and Son
Ken Fenderson, Director of Public Relations, Florida
Power Corporation
Catherine Finnigan, Representative, League of Women
Voters
William MacNeill, Mayor of Gulfport
Fred Minnis, Attorney at Law
Anne Murphy, Professor, Florida Presbyterian College
Robert Stewart, Chairman, Vice President, College
Relations, Florida Presbyterian College
Jacob Vonk, Insurance
William P. Wallace, Insurance
Eugene L. Williams, Jr., Senior Vice President,
First Federal Savings and Loan Association,
St. Petersburg
During its meetings the committee identified many problems,
duplications and disparities that exist within the municipal services
performed throughout Pinellas County.
The committee studied and
reviewed seven (7) major alternative solutions to the inter-government
problems.
A case rapidly developed for a uniform, one—level approach
to the governmental structure for the entire county.
GOALS
GENERAL GOAL
With an overall aim at eliminating the disparity and
duplication of governmental services within Pinellas County, at
its April 19, 1972 meeting the Governmental Affairs Committee
passed the following resolution:
The Governmental Affairs Committee endorses and recommends
to the Goals Committee and the City Council the creation of a
totally new single governmental structure for all of Pinellas
This proposed government would be elected by and respon
County.
sible to all citizens in Pinellas County and would be their only
municipal government (the school district would be excluded).
SPECIFIC GOALS
At its final meeting, the committee agreed to refrain
from further specifying implementation of the totally new single
The committee
governmental structure for all of Pinellas County.
does, however, offer its services in developing specific recommen
dations for accomplishing the recommended goal upon endorsement of
the concept by the Goals Steering Committee and City Council.
Supporting evidence for the committee’s conclusion and
recommendation may be found in the attached report titled “One
Summary of the Considerations
Level Government in Pinellas County:
The Goals for St. Petersburg.”
of
l
Committee
Affairs
Governmenta
of the
The committee repeats that the adoption of a one level
governmental approach would prove beneficial to the citizen of
Pinellas County, and that such a structure would be realistically
responsive to the needs of the people.
ATTACHMENTS
For the purpose of including a thorough presentation of
this committee’s deliberations we are including a complete set of
minutes for each meeting a1ong with the support documents presented
Again, special attention is called to the
at various meetings.
paper “One Level Government in Pinellas County,” which summarizes the
committee’s considerations.
Finally, the Governmental Affairs Committee earnestly
commends the city staff for its help and support in the work under
We thank the staff for a job well done.
taken by this committee.
COUNTY
ONE LEVEL GOVERNMENT IN PINELIAS
THE
SUMMARY OF THE CONSIDERATIONS OF
THE
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF
G
BUR
ERS
PET
ST.
GOALS FOR
APRIL 19,
1972
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROBLEMS IN PINELLAS COUNTY:
THE CASE FOR A UNIFORM APPROACH
e unit of
Historically, the county was created as an administrativ
its
within
e
ide
purpos
statew
the state government to carry out a
ve
initiati
the
ed
upon
Its creation in no way depend
jurisdiction.
needs
for
their
of
ction
or wishes of local citizens for the satisfa
ations
corpor
service
ipal
For this purpose munic
local services.
In
to meet the local requirements of citizens.
shed
establi
were
and
orate
incorp
the past, state laws made it relatively easy to
pockets of high density population could provide local services
independent of surrounding jurisdictions.
Over the past two decades, the situation in Pinellas County has
drastically altered due to the rapid expansion of population.
Previously isolated municipalities are now tied together by strong
Furthermore, population has spilled out
social and economic bonds.
In many cases
the unincorporated areas.
into
side the cities’ limits
than in
there
ding
deman
less
no
are
s
service
ipal
the needs for munic
exists
it
as
,
s
County
Pinella
Thus,
ctions.
the incorporated jurisdi
the
ment
supple
must
which
county
urban
ted
today, is a densely popula
ations.
corpor
service
ipal
munic
24
its
ed
by
municipal services provid
The county government far from being solely an administrative unit
of the state, must now provide such services that it can scarcely be
distinguished from a city as to the range of services it is called
upon to perform.
DUPLICATION AND DISPARITY IN MUNICIPAL SERVICES
As was reported to the Governmental Affairs Committee on February 2,
1972, the existence of 24 municipal service corporations in Pinellas
County and a county government called upon to provide municipal type
services to unincorporated areas has resulted in a considerable
duplication of functions by jurisdictions rendering those services.
Furthermore, there is a complete lack of standards for the quality
and cost of these services.
For instance, all residents of Pinellas County are assured of some
form of police protection. This requires a police director for each
The total combined salaries
jurisdiction rendering police services.
ts
for the heads of 18 police districts throughout the county amoun
The quality and cost of
to nearly $200,000 tax dollars annually.
to location within the
ing
accord
ly
marked
varies
this protection
Municipal police forces vary from two men in Seminole to
county.
The total combined police budgets for
309 men in St. Petersburg.
totaled nearly 11 million dollars
county
jurisdictions within the
distribution of these police
The
in 1970, or $19.83 per capita.
e, in Dunedin, the cost per
instanc
For
costs, however, is unequal.
na the per capita cost is
Pasade
South
capita is $22.00 annually; in
for
police protection vary I
cost
the
Not only does
$45.00 annually.
ally
affect life and deal
drastic
the training of personnel, which can
greatly through
varies
also
ion,
situations related to police protect
in St. Petersbui
ents
departm
police
For example, the
out the county.
en and
that
policem
require
and Clearwater and the County Sheriff
sheriff’s deputies receive a minimum of 480 hours training in the
Many of the smaller communities cannot
Pinellas Police Academy.
The smaller municipalities also depend upon
afford such training.
City
the
of St. Petersburg for lab work, detailed
or
the county
access
and
to computer data banks.
investigations,
Hot pursuit from one jurisdiction to another has continued to be a
Laws and penalties
thorn in the side of law enforcement agencies.
of the municipalities and the county vary considerably and there is
What recrods are kept by the
no central criminal records system.
cannot
be
used
for comparison due to the variations
municipalities
The result of
in the standards and techniques of record keeping.
this fragmented system of law enforcement in Pinellas County is that
the mobility of criminals is encouraged.
According to a report of the Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations in 1963, “it seems unlikely except under the most fortuitous
circumstances that a jurisdiction with less than 50,000 population
can support a police department which is self-sufficient and self-.
The total police resources of our metropolitan areas
sustaining.
are dissipated by the very nature of their organization.”
As Mr. Larry Arnold told this committee on February 2, what is needed
is uniform laws, law enforcement, and standards throughout the
county.
If we are to meet the safety needs of the growing population
which is expected to reach nearly 900,000 people in 1990 and which
will require over 1,300 policemen, present duplication and disparities
in police protection must be eliminated.
Similar disparities in the cost and quality of fire protection also
exist within the county.
According to the National Board of Fire
Underwriters, on a 1 to 10 scale with 1 indicating superior fire
protection, the municipalities of Pinellas County vary from the best
rating of 4 held by St. Petersburg to a rating of 8 held by Belleair
Bluffs, Kenneth City, and Oldsmar.
Many incorporated areas have the
worst possible rating of 10.
As with police protection, the various
boundaries of the municipalities prevent fire service from being
extended in a logical manner.
With population increasing in the
unincorporated areas of the county at almost double the rate of the
incorporated areas, the problem stands to become more severe in the
future.
Another area in which disparity exists is in solid waste disposal.
Approximately 6% of the county’s total population does not have
regularly scheduled refuse pickup arid there is a possibility that
unsanitary conditions may exist.
Even in areas of regularly scheduled
refuse pickup there exists disparities in the cost and quality of
service.
All but two of the 24 municipalities provide twice weekly
refuse pickup.
The tariff for this service, however, varies from a
low of $1.40 monthly in Pinellas Park to $3.35 in Gulfport and St.
Petersburg.
By the year 1990, refuse generated by the county’s
population will have increased from the present 340,000 tons per year
to nearly 575,000 tons per year.
The city’s landfill is projected
to last another 3 to 5 years at best and the county’s landfill is
in a similar situation.
According to Mr. Arnold, the solution to
the problem exists in a coordinated effort, at least on a countywide
basis.
2
A similar condition exists in the area
of water and sewer ser
vices.
In Pinellas County water may origin
ate from one of the two
major
suppliers or from one of the 19 pri
vate systems operating
the county.
throughout
Minimum charges vary from $1.
50 per month in Dunedin
to $3.50 per month in Tarpon Sprin
gs.
In 13 of the 24 munic
water is supplied directly to
ipalities
the customer on a retail
bas
Pinellas County.
is
by
Five other municipalities buy
water on a wholesale
basis from the county and dis
tribute it to their citize
ns.
municipalities procure the
Three
ir water from the City of
St. Petersburg.
There are 11 distinct munic
ipal water distribution sys
tems.
condition and capacity of
The
these systems varies from
good to poor and
leaves certain doubts as
to their abilities to han
dle the water deman
which will be increasing
from an average of 62 mi
llion gallons daily
to an average of more than
100 million gallons daily
by 1990.
control of water resources
Again,
and distribution of water
supply would be
more logical on an areawide
basis.
Sewer services also exhib
it similar disparity.
More critical, howeve:
is the fact that approxim
ately 22,000 households or
nearly 10% of the
county’s population receiv
e no sewer service at all
.
The disadvantag
of septic tanks has been
known for some time and yet
it
assumed that areas withou
can only be
t regular sewer service are
using them.
for sewer service in Pine
Chai
llas County vary as marke
dly as does water
service.
St. Petersburg charges
a monthly minimum of $1.
residents’ sewer servic
35 for
e.
For the same service the
charges a monthly minimu
Town of Oldsmar
m of $4.00.
Quality differences becom
when it is realized tha
e appare
t 12 of the county’s mu
nicipalities provide
secondary sewage treatm
ent; 7 provide modified
secondary treatment,
and 5 municipalities wh
ich account for more than
15,000 of the county’
population, provide onl
y primary treatment which
has been proven to be
damaging to the environm
ent and hazardous to the
general welfare of
the county as a whole.
This is because should som
e of the undertreate
sewage become contamina
ted by some contagion,
the spread of the diseas
would not be confined to
areas of poor treatment.
county would suffer and
All areas of the
everyone would be forced
to pay for the poor
quality of sewage treatm
ent.
Again, uniform standards
promote the general we
designed to
lfare of the area would
be a more logical approac
to the problem.
What has been discussed
here are the more glarin
g examples of the
fragmentation and gappin
g of public services wh
ich are found in
Pinellas County.
It has been recognized tha
t an areawide approach
toward dealing with the
se problems would be a be
tter one.
however, problems which
There are,
must be overcome in order
to this fragmentation.
to seek solutions
Summarized below are the
alternatives which
have been considered
by the committee.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PRO
BLEM
As has been demonstrated
, local government in Pi
nellas County is
characterized by fragm
ented and overlapping res
po
nsibilities and
competition by local jur
isdictions for taxing ca
county needs and the
pabilities.
Inter—
need for cooperation to
meet them have also been
demonstrated and the com
mittee has considered eac
h form in order to
determine its applicabil
ity to Pinellas County.
These forms of
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i’nterlocal cooperation vary from voluntary interlocal agreements
between two or more jurisdictions to complete city/county consolidation.
The pros and cons of each are summarized below.
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS
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At the December 15 meeting of the Governmental Affairs Committee,
the idea of interlocal agreements was introduced as a possible
solution to the intergovernmental problem.
The range of interlocal
agreements varies from water and sewer agreements between the cities
of St. Petersburg and Gulfport to agreements between the cities and
the county for tax assessing and collection.
Interlocal agreements
have their advantages in that they are single activity oriented, are
relatively easily negotiated, and do have some potential for achieving
economy in the operation of a service on an areawide basis.
They
likewise provide standby arrangements in the event of natural or
man-made calamity.
They are a rather common form of service extension
found in Pinellas County.
St. Petersburg, for instance, has entered
into water and sewer agreements with Gulfport and South Pasadena, a
water agreement with Oldsmar, and a verbal fire agreement with the
City of Gulfport.
While this approach has solved pressing problems
with the area, it has, however, ignored the countywide approach.
Disadvantages to interlocal agreements include the fact that because
of their single activity orientation, they are not broad enough to
deal effectively with areawide problems.
This can be graphically
demonstrated in the case of St. Petersburg’s sewer agreement with the
City of Gulfport.
While the City of St. Petersburg has agreed to
furnish Gulfport with sewer service, the same agreement provides no
means of density control in the area to be serviced.
At the time
service was first extended to the area, its density was such that the
sewer capacity was sufficient.
Subsequent growth has severely over
taxed the sewer system, especially during the rainy season where there
is considerable storm water intrusion into the system.
The agreement
was also an improvident one for the City of St. Petersburg.
The
formula used for determining the cost of treating sewage would not
allow for the subsequent escalation of costs now borne by St. Peters
burg.
For instance, the agreement calls for treating sewage from
Gulfport at the rate of $41.85 per million gallons.
Today, the actual
cost is closer to $300 per million gallons.
An interim agreement has
increased the charge to Gulfport to $135 per million gallons.
The
matter, however, is still being negotiated.
If interlocal agreements
are to continue they will have to take note of future demands upon the
service capacity.
As they exist today they do not provide for
developments outside the scope of the agreement but which severely impact
the service area.
Furthermore, if the problem which interlocal agree
ments deal with is rapidly becoming an areawide problem, as in the case
of water and sewer service, agreements between two or three cities
should be discouraged since once they have entered into an agreement
• towards the solution of a particular problem, it becomes more difficult
to ask them to abandon their efforts and join an areawide effort.
METROPOLITAN COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT
1
Metropolitan councils of government also known as Councils of
Elected Officials or Metropolitan Councils, represent an expanded
4
form of interlocal cooperation.
In our own area we have a similar
organization known as the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
They consider the entire range of metropolitan problems, consist
primarily of elected officials, and are financed by contributions
from participating local governments.
A significant characteristic
of metropolitan councils is that they employ professional staffs
to assist them in planning for solutions to areawide problems.
However, they have either no authority or very limited authority
because membership in these councils is voluntary, compliance with
their plans is voluntary, and their resources are severely limited
since they are supported by contributions and possess no taxing power
of their own.
As a source of planning and guidance in the considera
tion of areawide problems, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
has rendered an invaluable service.
However, when it comes to the
implementation of solutions to areawide problems, it is severely
limited.
ANNEXATI ON
Annexation is generally one of the first
when it comes to solving a fragmentation
Pinellas County.
It has lost popularity,
not the solution for Pinellas County for
approaches that is considered
problem as it exists in
however, and it is probably
the following reasons:
1)
The multiplicity of incorporated areas with the county which
make it difficult for annexation to succeed in solving areawide
problems since most municipalities would maintain their autono
my.
2)
Since annexation is based on the necessity of consent of
the area
to be annexed, it is difficult to extend services on an areawi
de
basis in a logical manner.
3)
Communities often limit their annexation to areas which will
be
of economic or political benefit to them.
This, again, bars
a logical extension of service.
Annexation, however, does have
its place and should be practiced where appropriate.
At the tenth meeting of the Governmental Affairs Comm
ittee it was
recommended that the City of St. Petersburg annex that territor
y
north of the city limits and east of 34th Street.
This augments the
position taken by the City Manager that no extension
of municipal
services would be made to that area unless it agrees
to be annexed.
The territory in question, however, represents a logical
extension of
the city limits of St. Petersburg.
This does not hold true for all
the unincorporated territory in Piriellas County.
Annexation represents
a limited tool and does not provide a total answer
to the fragmentation
problem.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
Special districts represent a form of consolidation
that is functional
in nature in that participating jurisdictions will turn
over’ their
authority in a particular service area to a central
areawide authority.
A modified example of a special district would
be the recently created
Pinellas County Fire Authority.
This form of consolidation is often
used in circumstances when more comprehensive
consolidation is con
5
The consolidation of selected functions
sidered not to be feasible.
action of existing units of
cooperative
is generally achieved by
lend themselves to the solution
districts
special
t4hile
government.
the effect of further
have
problems,
also
they
pressing
more
of
entrenching countywide fragmentation in that once established, they
become difficult to abandon and adopt a more comprehensive plan.
They also have a strictly limited purpose and strictly limited
They have also been criticized for their apparent remote
resources.
More significantly, they have a complete
ness from the public.
inability to deal with conditions which impact the service they
provide but which they lack authority to handle.
For instance, if
a sewer district were to be established in southern Pinellas County,
unless it also had the authority to regulate building and population
densities, it would be hard pressed to handle the problem of sewage
disposal.
COMPREHENSIVE URBAN COUNTY PLAN
The comprehensive urban county plan is a form of comprehensive city/
county consolidation under which there is a simultaneous reallocation
of various services, which are of areawide concern, from all munici
palities to a county.
Services unique to municipalities are retained
An example of the comprehensive urban county plan is now in
by them.
effect in Metropolitan Dade County.
The advantages to this plan are
self—evident.
Functions of areawide concern are transferred to an
areawide authority.
At the same time the jealously guarded autonomy
of local jurisdictions is retained.
The plan, however, does have its
disadvantages.
First of all, in order for municipalities to transfer
services to a county, there must be a structurally integrated county
government capable of assuming these responsibilities.
If no such
county government exists, one must be established which leads to
difficulty in determining the nature of the governing body.
Furthermoi
there is significant disagreement and ensuing difficulties in determin
ing which function should be assigned to the county and which should
be retained by the local municipalities.
Finally, in Florida, there
would be severe financial limitations.
The County Home Rule Amendment
which permits the formation of a comprehensive urban county plan does
not provide for additional taxing power by the county, which would be
limited by the 10—mill cap, and would certainly act as a deterrent to
the implementation of such a plan.
METROPOLITAN FEDERATION
Metropolitan federation is a variable of the urban county plan and
involves the creation of a new areawide government.
An example is
the City of Toronto, Canada.
In essence, under the federation
approach, all municipalities join together in a form of government
likened to the federal system of the national government.
Local
matters are left in the hands of the municipalities while problems
of areawide concern are handled by the federation’s government.
Significant advantages of the federation are that local autonomy
can be retained by municipalities and that the federation can extend
beyond county lines.
However, the federation approach brings with it
the same problems encountered by the comprehensive urban county plan
and carries with it the additional problem of forming a new level
of government, possibly increasing fragmentation rather than reducing i
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CITY/COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
-
ONE LEVEL APPROACH
City/county consolidation amounts to the complete or substantial
merger of county government with all municipalities within the
The Nashville-Davidson Plan and the Jacksonville-Duval
county.
While the plan has
County Plan are good examples of this approach.
often been proposed, it has seldom been adopted largely because
municipalities within the county fear the loss of local autonomy and
the remoteness to local government which may come with bigness.
In
order for the plan to be successfully implemented there would have to
be in existence a structurally integrated government capable of managi
all services within the county, or one would have to be created.
The
advantages of this plan are numerous.
Equitable distribution of
services could be accomplished within a uniform taxing structure.
It would carry with it the efficiency of one government as opposed
to the numerous levels under our currently fragmented system and
alternatives to the plan.
Responsibility for services and planning
would be clearly defined.
It is this plan which was proposed at the
eleventh meeting of the committee and was discussed in depth.
As
Mr. Bell stated, the plan certainly represents the ideal in that “the
citizens recognize the commonality of their needs and interests and
the importance of a more coherent and active address to those problems.
would see in it the chance to.. .focus responsibility in a clearcut way.
It was emphasized that the successful adoption of such a plan would
require that it be recognized that it is not an absorption of the
rest of the county by St. Petersburg, but that all would benefit
from having a single governmental structure for the entire county
which would be realistically responsive to the needs of the people.
____
CITY OF ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
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COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT
4
“The Sunshine City”
June 9,
1972
The Honorable Herman W. Goidner
Mayor, City of St. Petersburg
Post Office Box 2842
St. Petersburg, Florida 33731
Dear Mayor Goldner:
RE:
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Land Use and Housing Goals Committe
t relating
The Committee of the Goals for St. Petersburg Projec
past
the
for
basis
lar
to Land Use and Housing has met on a regu
much
eration
We have reviewed and taken into consid
eight months.
ng De—
of the material previously accomplished by the City’s Planni
Institute
can
Ameri
the
by
ed
partment, as well as information furnish
from
studies
of Architects, the American Institute of Planners, and
other sections of the United States.
the
In submitting our final recommendations and goals effort, it is
the
unanimous opinion of our Committee that Mr. John B. Harvey,
many
the
for
credit
of
Director of Planning, receive the lion’s share
We also would like to acknowledge
hours he spent working with us.
the work and cooperation of his staff.
It has been our pleasure to serve on this Committee and we hope
formu
that some of our deliberations will serve as a useful guide in the
St.
in
life
good
lation of future programs and policies to enhance the
Petersburg.
Ver
LMN:cm
tr
Leo M.
ly
ours
Nagle,
—
Chal
an
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mrs. Beverly Elder, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Douglas Doubleday
Mr. Thomas McLean
Mr. Edward Rosenbiuth
Mr. Albert Werly
Preliminary Statement
Land Use and Housing Goals
for St. Petersburg, Florida
Land Use Goals
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Although St. Petersburg historically has felt a need for planning its future
and has had plans for 50 years, there has been a lack of sufficient dedication of
the people of the City to achieve the goals of any plan. External forces have
further contributed, so that today St. Petersburg finds itself as one of two
dominant “centers” of the Central Florida West Coast Urban Area, which extends in
urban character approximately 80 miles in each the north and south directions of
the coastal reaches.
Urban sprawl is a fact of life of this megalopolis. St. Petersburg should
place top priority on assuming its position of economic dominance over this broad
region, in concert with Tampa. We are the core of megalopolis, and can lead in
functions such as government, finance, medical arts, culture, education, enter
tainment and specialized retailing for a sector of Florida that will contain
several million residents. We should deliberately foster and encourage Tampa to
provide the other basic core functions, such as major transportation features of
ports, rail, and air, and processing industries.
As maximum population capabilities and top economic growth ratios up and
down the Central Florida West Coast are reached, the costs of developing lands
removed from the core of this megalopolis will provide the incentive so that
redevelopment and reuse of older sectors of the core (St. Petersburg and Tampa)
will provide opportunity for regeneration, new economic life, and new image of
this central city.
The 1990 Land Use Plan established an ultimate, maximum desirable population
for the present land area of St. Petersburg of 375,000 persons. We believe that
this figure can be safely expanded, to 500,000 persons, and still remain a “City
for Living,” under optimum conditions. Additional growth is an acceptable goal
only if we vigilantly assume future governmental and environmental responsibility
and fiscal feasibility and stay in the forefront of technological breakthroughs
in utilities and transportation.
A goal must be to provide graciously for all ages and stages of human work
and leisure, in order to retain the “natural selection” of premium seasonal so
journers and permanent resident retirees interested in a high level of environ
ment amenity.
A goal must be to block and forestall the tyranny of the individual automo
bile. This implies reformed tax measures, laws, and establishment of significant
and sufficient nucleated enclaves within the City where no cars can enter. These
areas should be created from major focal points such as commercial and institu
tional groupings.
A specific goal should be to allow the more intensive residential density at
sites which have direct relationships to these concentrated centers described
above.
Land Use must be fostered to serve better the social and economic fabric of
the community, by such devices as creation of medium residential densities along
selected major arterial thoroughfares to reduce otherwise the friction and ad
verse influences of strip commercial development, and to thus create a market for
sustenance of public transport system.
j
.J
jJ
j
A goal must be to foster a functional heart to the City
the central core
with its central business district, to become the major finance and office center
of the entire Central Florida West Coast.
-
The cells of the body of the City are the neighborhoods.
encourage re-nucleation of identifiable neighborhoods.
A goal must be to
Land Use goals cannot be separated from transportation, housing, environment,
economic goals, and governmental structure. They are and must be of the same fabri
A particularly important determinant of land use is tax structure. Florida’s
real property tax system should be revised with the specific goal in mind of intro
duction of a land increment taxation system, to encourage land into its most productive use to society, and to overcome present penalties for simply making use
of land.
A specific goal should be to further the concept of a development guidance
system (Blue Ribbon) whereby the City Plan with its density levels and intensityof-use levels, tolerance levels, and performance standards will be substituted
for the many traditional development-oriented laws such as zoning, building codes,
and subdivision àrdinances.
This Committee is firmly against a moratorium on construction. We suggest a
specific goal of finding out as rapidly and thoroughly as possible the problems
related to growth
such as utilities and transportation
and to determine
economic viability toward what is possible in expansion of utilities and facilities
within constraints of law and St. Petersburg’s share of various natural resources.
We then by controlled growth must diligently respect the goals and plans and
maximum desirable population this City should absorb.
-
-
Open space of land and water is vital to nourish the amenities and life styles
of St. Petersburg. A specific goal should be preservation of larger man-made or
natural areas of significance, and to improve and protect the quality of our bays
so that they return to their former prominence of being our major “Parks,” and
so that marine life will be assured for future generations.
3.
Open space further is a major element of land use design. Bold vistas and
pedestrian avenues must be opened in the more intensely developed areas of the
City.
We recognize St. Petersburg has been and is the leader in an expanding
megalopolis extending from Homosassa to Marco Island, in furtherance of county
wide and regional planning and in plan implementation.
A specific goal should be to have community energy further the recognition
of the true urban community and move toward cooperatively developed and estab
lished goals and plans and resultant laws applicable to the broader urban area.
We further suggest a goal for St. Petersburg to become a leader in making
and promoting a Florida State Plan to guide future growth into those areas of
the State where it can be absorbed, through creation of new towns with fiscally
responsible economic rationale.
Housing Goals
1.
To assure a variety of life styles within the City and its neighborhoods.
2.
To provide opportunity for all segments of the population to obtain
decent housing, and to provide a suitable living environment within
each neighborhood.
3.
To foster policies to reduce the proportion of income spent on housing
including maintenance.
4.
To encourage the maintenance of viable residential neighborhoods and
rehabilitation of blighted and declining neighborhoods.
5.
To assure the adequate delivery of public services to all residents,
and especially to those whose needs are the greatest.
6.
To encourage coordination and uniformity in housing-oriented regulations
to provide adequate and ample shelter.
7.
To encourage new construction methods and techniques and housing types
to increase the supply of housing for all segments of the population.
8.
To ensure housing opportunity in proximity to jobs and daily activities.
9.
To ensure that all housing enhances the total environment and various
life styles.
10.
To work with State and Federal officials to take a broader view of
housing problems; to establish and maintain liaison with all levels
of government to aid housing in St. Petersburg.
4.
11.
To implement existing financing vehicles and stimulate the development
of innovative financial techniques that will reduce housing costs.
12.
To eliminate substandard housing and encourage the redevelopment of
viable residential areas.
CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORID
4
v
COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMEI
“The Sunshine City”
Medical Delivery Sys
Goals for St. Peters]
‘J
June 28,
‘_J
1972
General Theodore J. Conway, Ret.
Chairman of the Executive Committee
Goals for St. Petersburg
City Hall
St. Petersburg, Florida
Dear General Conway:
I am pleased to enclose the final report of the
Medical Delivery Systems Committee.
This report spells
out this committee’s conclusions and policy recom—
mendations in the area of medical care.
J
It is our hope that this report will be of value
to the Goals for St. Petersburg Project and to the City
of St. Petersburg.
Dr. Thomas M.
Chairman
uehl
The following people have taken part in or contributed
to the discussions of this committee:
Mr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Kevin Bell
F. Joe Burns
Douglas W. Hood
Robert A. Biles
Allyn B. Giff in
David S. Hubbell
Alfred D. Koenig
TMQ/sjg
Enclosure
Mr.
Dr.
Mr.
Dr.
Mr.
Mr.
Robert Pierce
John A. Ray
James A. Vanderslik
Alan Trager, DDS
Andrew Padova
John Connell
POLICY STATEMENT
l care
There is nothing wrong with the quality of medica
-J
available in our community.
Our society has developed the
known.
best quality medical care the world has ever
Avail
matter and requires
ability of care for all citizens is another
public education,
public and professional participation,
direction by health care professionals.
J
-J
I:]
H
H
1
and
GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
[
MEDICAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS
St. Petersburg must strive toward the creation of a compre—
hensive general health care program that is available to all of
our citizens.
The program, if it is to meet our current and
future needs, must include:
H
—
[
*
A program for mental health
*
Planning for indigent care
*
Programs for drug and alcohol abuse
*
Efficient and effective emergency service
*
A new medical education program
We must
growing need
institutions
be developed
attempt to create a medical system in which the
for primary family doctors will be met.
Health
should be a community and a national resource to
and managed in the public interest.
The willingness and availability of physicians and insti—
tutions to participate in patient care is extremely important,
and to a very large degree determines the overall quality of the
We, as a community, must seek to provide for the continu—
cost
of such care and there must be an awareness of necessity
ing
for the community to accept its responsibility to fund such
medical care through some means.
R.ECOMNENDAT IONS
Medical Education
There must be some type of medical education program insti
tuted and supported which would provide residency-type training
for primary family doctors.
Such a program could be instituted
at Bayfront Medical Center and be developed in conjunction with
the existing medical program at the University of South Florida.
Such a program has the possiblity of helping to care for indi
gent patients and help to attract primary family doctors to the
St. Petersburg area.
There is a definite need for more new
young primary doctors in our community and every effort should
be made to obtain them for entry into our medical system.
Many
of the problems that are now arising and will continue to arise
in the future are not directly related to our local medical
system itself, but rather to the distribution of doctors within
the system
6
-2The possibility of establishing a paramedics program should
There is a possibility of this approach being used
be explored.
on a local level.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Projects
Project ALPHA and similar drug and alcohol rehabilitation
programs should be supported and continued by whatever means
possible in an effort to keep such programs community—supported
and oriented.
Coordination
r1
F
It is this committee’s recommendation that the County med—
ical society and local governmental officers hold workshop meetings
to coordinate ideas on the development of our medical delivery
system and its component parts and programs.
A liaison must be
established between the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners,
the Pinellas County Board of Delegation, and representative
s of
the medical society in order to better coordinate medical
care
needs; especially in the unincorporated and less populated
areas
of the county.
A continuing liaison is also needed between the various and
distinct agencies involved in providing medical care.
This liai—
son is needed in order to avoid duplication of programs
and problem
solving techniques.
Indigent Care
As previously suggested, a residency training program would
help alleviate a certain amount of the indigent care needed
.
Legislation will have to be enacted eventually to help with
the
cost of the indigent care.
Perhaps a taxing district could be
established to provide medical care for indigent patient
s.
There must also be a central facility for the entry of
these patients into our medical delivery system.
Funding of Medical Care Programs
All citizens must share the burden of health care costs.
It is not necessary for the City to spend time and money
in
the development of data for new programs when there
are already
various programs in existence which can be implemented
on a local
level.
There is enough money available through various county
and
community oriented committees, groups, and task forces
to ade
quately provide quality medical care for
our citizens.
What is
—3—
sh
needed is a committee or agency with the authority to establi
ies.
priorit
these
and to oversee the distribution of funds to meet
any
in
on
St. Petersburg should consider applying for inclusi
program which develops an autonomous corporation with community-.
funds for
wide support and authority for spending of available
health delivery systems.
Medical Costs
The public must be made aware of the various fees which make
These areas include medication, lab
up medical service costs.
oratory fees, nursing care, X—ray fees, pathology fees, and others;
If citizens realized why health
as well as the doctors’ fees.
services have become more and more expensive, they would demand
that adequate medical services be made available through proper
funding.
The City of St. Petersburg
The St. Petersburg Police Department should have adequate
This committee suggests that the
medical service for prisoners.
some recognized group or
with
t
contrac
into
enter
City should
the following:
ing
provid
e
of
purpos
the
for
institution
*
Emergency care before prisoners are admitted
to jail, if necessary.
*
Emergency care for patients already in jail.
*
Continuing medical care for illnesses acquired
by jailed prisoners.
The City of St. Petersburg should have a medical consultant
to advise the City on medical expenditures.
The City should consider the possibility of developing and
implementing a home health care program similar to national
programs of private pharmaceutical companies.
rFJ
CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
v\.4
COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT
“The Sunshine City”
FINAL REPORT
MINORITY RELATIOtS COMMITTEE
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG PROJECT
The Minority Relations Conmiittee held twenty-one meetings
from October 22 through April 14, 1972.
In addition to the two-
hour weekly meetings, much time was spent by the individual
members conducting interviews, doing research for the committee,
and preparing reports.
MEMBERSHIP
I
Mr. Perkins Shelton, Chairman
Miss Evelyn Boykins
Miss Marian Craighill
Mr. Rick Gelinas
Reverend Robert H. Genmier
Mr. John Hopkins
Mrs. Willie Mae Sanderson
Mrs. Elaine Johansen
EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYER
GOALS FOR ST
PETERSBURG
AFFIL, 1972
FINAL REC1ENDAflONS
MINORITY RELATIONS SUBCOtTTEE
We have agreed upon and hope to implement a consensus of values which evolved
from our discussions. They are as follows:
We seek a city that actively demonstrates its desire to involve all of its
citizens--black and white--in participatory democracy.
We seek a city which will actively search out and remove vestiges of institutional
racism, without being compelled by law to do so.
seek
a city that will signify that it reveres human life and the individual’s
We
right to grow and become whatever he can and must.
•..a city that sees men as human beings, and is sensitive and cognizant of
cultural differences--which seeks discovery and creative revelation of
diversity.
We seek a city that encourages its citizens to see that its men and women and
their families have an environment that encourages humane values.
Our overall charge as a conmtlttee, as outlined in the Goals for St. Petersburg
booklet is to examine the causes of alienation of minorities in this city, We were
charged with two specific responsibilities: that of 1) discovering all of the minoritie:
in St. Petersburg and 2) discussing what the comrminity is doing or is not doing to
promote understanding between the members of the minorities and the rest of the
counnunity.
ANALYSIS OF SITUAflON
A.
What minorities exist in our con!nunity? By the definition given in the Goals for
St. Petersburg booklet, “There are approximately 32,000 minority group members
living in St. Petersburg. They comprise l4.8 of our population...”. Negro
population according to the Population and Housing Supplement 1971 published
by the City of St. Petersburg Planning Department, Page 10, Item 5 is listed
as 31,911, or l4.8 of the population. We therefore assume that by “minority
group member” the Goals Program means those members of the Negro race who
reside in St. Petersburg.
We have broadened our definition of minority group member to include “all those
non white persons who are subject to social alienation and political isolation
and who feel that they can not obtain what they define as the good life. This
isolation and alienation may exist because of geography, social or political
mores or economic factors”.
B.
To what degree do the minorities feel. socially alienated from the total comimmity
and what forms does this alienation take?
Alienation is based on unmet needs, both physical and psychological, which are
so great and so pervasive that just to document them will take staff and resources
far beyond the scope allotted for the Goals Program. The most outstanding need
is the minority group member’s need to feel that he is effective as a person and
member of a larger society. Here is the root of alienation, the pervasive anxiety
and despair of being the last to be consulted, the last to know...while “society”
disposes or imposes...until here and there someone says “NOt” Alienation lies in
a city that plans FOR people, not letting or helping them to plan for themselves.
Nowhere is the potential rage of the rising black consciousness more evident than
when the last vestiges of personhood--where shall I live, how shall I eat-—so basic,
yet so removed from the ability of the average man’s control revolve around other
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
—
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL, 1972
men’s decision making. The remainder of this subsection will deal with some of the
causes of alienation-—or unmet needs.
Housiflg - Housing constitutes the largest area of unmet needs of the minorities
in this city at the present time. In our most recent history “slumlords were in
the driver’s seat...when the boundaries for Negro housing were set in the city
Charter and the supply was 1{inited. This provision of the charter was repealed
by the Legislature in 1969.”
But the substandard and blighted properties
remain--occupied--some without heat, hot water or kitchens, many rat, roach and
disease ridden. Of the 9,779 housing units estimated to be inhabited by Negro
families in 1969, 1,640 of these housing units are estimated to be substandard. 2
Two-hundred seventy four of these substandard housing units will be displaced
75, and the residents will be provided with relocation housing
3
by Interstate
compensation.
However, for the minority group members living in the remaining
1,366 substandard structures, poor housing will remain a living reminder of the
double standard of discriminatory housing practices--or de jure segregation.
In 1940 it was noted that “there is a critical shortage of
housing units for
4
Negro occupancy which meet a minimum standard of decency.”
In 1969 it was
noted that approximately “65 of all substadard housing units are located in
four census tracts--209, 210, 211 and 2l6.” The point being that census tract
209, Gibbs, is 99.2 Negro; 210, Jordan—Mercy- is 97.Th Negro; 211, Gas Plant, is
96.3 Negro and census tract 216, Methodist Town is 59.l Negro according to 1970
Census figures.
Of all of the myths that persist about minority group members the idea that
they are acculturated or used to slum housing and may even like it is the most
vicious and must be dispelled. When you live a life of basic survival (which
life in the inner city slum represents), everything slightly different or changed
may present a threat...a bus schedule, talk about a proposed Interstate, etc. For
many security lies in sameness, reliability, predictability--even when things are
predictably insufferable, change might be worse.
There is, however, demographic proof that minority group members are seeking,
actively, to get out of the severely dilapadated, high density crime ridden
areas. Gas Plant, census tract 211, had an average of 40.8 persons per acre
in 1960; Methodist Town, census tract 216 followed closely with 38 persons per acre,
Jordan Mercy was next in density--census tract 210 had 25 persons per acre, and
Melrose, census tract 212 was close behind with 21.5 persons per acre. This is
incredibly high density to maintain any standard of living, and when you calculate
the age, ownership and condition of housing dwellings, the lack of open spaces for
children and the elderly, how could pride, personal identity, privacy or hope survive
Methodist Town has lost so much minority group population (1960’s population
for Negro was 2,856. 1970’s population for Negro was 1,252) that one wonders
why the city has decided to give the minority group members living in that
area a recreation center in Fiscal Year 1972 that was invisioned in 1923.
We are not talking-about a minuscule reaction to overcrowding, but rather the outmigr
from these four census tracts of some 6,600 inhabitants.
Chicago demographer Pierre de Vise says, “As a rule black ghettos don’t last
more than 30 years. The ultimate future of the ghetto is abandonment and
demolition--to become built over as a middle-class white neighborhood again.”
“...the buildings are shells that no one wants to live in...”.
6
Perhaps
this bodes well for the Methodist Town and Gas Plant property owners who await
the profitable turn of their investment, but it does not help the very real
housing problem that the minority group members face in this city.
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
-
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL
1972
is no evidence that it
Where is the minority population migrating to? There
south and west.
be
moving
to
is dispersing, but rather the population seems
minority popu
the
that
t
eviden
Regardless of the geographic direction, it is
we could
study
orist
behavi
only
lation is seeking the “American dreaad’. The
in
wanted
city
inner
ted
popula
y
find to assess what residents in the densel
Six
r
1970.
Octobe
of
s
familie
desired housing was the Premack Study of 1—75
out of ten
out of ten would prefer to purchase their own home and eight
olds.
househ
860
preferred a house. Their interviews represented
the past ten
What type of area does the minority group member move to? Over
aries were
bound
whose
years all migration has been contiguous to the ghetto
areas
Most
es.
prescribed by law and grew in area with population increas
lending
local
by
contiguous to the ghetto are considered “transition areas”
more in
or
te
30%
institutions--which means their property values can fluctua
offer
to
nt
relucta
a short period of time, and most lending institutions are
full
in
,
conventional mortgages for the full value.’’ One local realtor
ctive
violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prints a city map for prospe
and
off
clients with the predominately iningrity inhabited areas crossed
labelled “Mixed” in April of 1972.
individual,
What chance does the minority group member have for interaction as an
Board
a neighbor, a citizen buying a home for his family? The former School
of
Board
urg
attorney addressed this problem when speaking to the St. Petersb
on
m
proble
Realtors in November 1970. He stated “...we are multiplying this
to
ourselves” by keeping blacks concentrated. “You know that if a Negro wants
j
buy a nice home in a nice area, and he’s got the money, he’s got a tough
doing it.” “There is something you have got to do,...you have got to help
has an
provide a decent place for these people to live, because until the Negro
have
opportunity to buy a. nice home and the opportunity to take care of it, we
problem.”
a 9
Three census tracts will show the pattern of the last ten years, and what we
the popu
can expect in the next ten years in other contiguous tracts, unless
city.
the
hout
throug
uals
individ
g
as
lation can find housin
is bounded by 9th and 22nd Streets, South between
Lakevie’w - Tract 206
18th Avenue South (Tangerine) and Lake Maggiore.
In 1960 the White Population was 3,892, the Negro Population was 95.
By 1970 there was an out-migration of 3,198 whites, and an in—migration
of 4,917 Negroes. The percent of Negro population in this tract in 1970
is 87.7%
-
is bounded by 22nd Street and 34th Street South between
Tract 207
Perkins
15th and 30th Avenue South. In 1960 the White Population was 2,677, the Negro
and
Population was 2,304. By 1970 there was an out-migration of 2,264 whites,
this
in
tion
popula
Negro
of
t
percen
an in-migration of 4,320 Negroes. The
Tract in 1970 is 93.6%.
—
—
is bounded by 16th Street, starting at 7th Avenue South
Tract 212
Meirose
and running to 15th Avenue South, westwards along 15th Avenue to 22nd Street,
south to 18th Avenue South (Tangerine), east along 18th Avenue to 9th Street,
and north to 7th Avenue, South.
In 1960 the White Population was 3,294, the Negro Population was 1,242. By
1970 there was an out—migration of 2,624 whites, and an in-migration of l,742
Negroes. The percent of Negro population in this Tract in 1970 is 88%.
—
—
3.
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
-
APRIL, 1972
MINORITY RELATIONS
What type of area has the minority group member been able to move to? How stable
are the structures BEFORE he moves in? How stable the neighborhood? The example
Census Tract 212 is a case in point.
of the population migration into Meirose
Meirose was “solidly developed, with about 7O of the housing supply pre-dating
1940.” In 1965 the Neighborhood Analysis continues, “...almost every block tween
.
13th Avenue and 18th Avenue South contained lO to over 5O blighted units.”
-
As stated above, there was an in-migration of 3,742 Negroes. This figure represents
over 56 of those moving out of the critically overpopulated census tracts of
209, Gibbs; 210, Jordan-Mercy; 211, Gas Plant and 216, Methodist Town. Melrose
was already in some form of decay in 1960, and its Negro population was only 38.
Now Neirose is 88 Negro. Of the 2,114 housing units in the tract, 601 are owned
by Negro occupants. This figure represents 18 of the 3,321 Negro owned domiciles
within the City of St. Petersburg. Was it money well spent? The median value in
1960 by U.S. Census figures was $9,600. In 1970 the median value--mind you this
is in a decade of high inflation--,the median value had fallen to $8,200. Melrose
now is the most densely populated of all the census tracts, with 23.6 persons per
acre. With population density, substandard dwellings, and the downward spiral of
investment in deteriorated dwellings come despair, impoverishment and crime.
42
Melrose and Jordan-Mercy were considered “the most dangerous areas in the city’
in the first eleven months of 1971.
Discriminatory housing patterns have been and are the most
Our recommendations:
the Negro
3
critical cause of alienation of our minority population. In 1940 6 of
population were home owners. In 1969 the percentage had fallen to 5.
We recommend the following:
Enactment and enforcement of a Fair Housing Ordinance.
Concentrated Code Enforcement to bring all dwelling units up to a safe,
standard condition, and to insure quality of new low income housing.
Continuing relocation office, staffed by professionals, to find suitable
housing citywide for persons displaced by governmental action.
Demolition of dilapadated housing units which are in irreparable condition,
whether privately or publically owned.
The City sponsor workshops with realtors and bankers and city administrators
and those members of tbe black and white community that feel they wish
to participate in implementing open housing.
The City sponsor group workshops to reassure our minority citizens that they
would be welcome citywide.
Continued support of non profit corporations building low income housing, and
continued opposition to a referendum requirement placed on public housing
by the State Legislature.
We must recognize that there is no more costly enterprise than the ghetto—-or the
physical setting aside of persons on the basis of race.
Consumer Problems
A good deal of building activity has been generated in St.
Petersburg for low to moderate income families under various FHA and IRJD subsidized
and forty
4
mortgage plans in anticipation of Interstate-75 relocation. Nine hundre
members,alone,
be
will
eight (948) residences for minority group
“A recet
needed.
H,U.D audit of Section 235 houses across the country showed that more than 25 percer
inspected in a random sample had serious defects ranging from poor materials or
workmanship to deficiencies that could endanger health or safety.”
Many minorit
15
group members buying homes for the first time are unaware of the pitfalls in home
ownership, the hidden maintenance costs which must be budgetted for beyond the
price of taxes, principle and interest. Many persons who presently rent, but who
—
-.
) GQALS. FORST. PETERSBURG
-
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL, 1972
- -.
•
[J
J1
[
1
I
r1
1
1
J
F1
1
[
might qualify for home ownership if they had established credit, need help in
getting credit established or re-established. The City should certainly avoid
the mass abandonment and foreclosures which happened in the 1950’s with FHA
homes citywide, and pay particular attention to building activity in undeveloped
areas where assessments for streets and other improvements will fall on unwary
consumers.
The second area of concert for minority consumers is the small loan or finance
company who might take advantage of the lack of consumer information of their
clients by renegotiating notes for small case advances, charging excessive
interest rates, and tagging on service fees and life insurance premiums financed
by wholly owned subsidiaries of the company.
Our recomnendations:
We recommen close scrutiny of all law income and moderate income housing
presently being built in the City with a view to its physical soundness,
but also its potential as a poor investment for an unwary investor. If
the quality of the materials and workmanship is such that the structure
will not accrue in value during the life of the mortgage, than the investor
should be so informed. If the location of the new home is in an area which
will require assessments for utilities and improvements, then the investor
should also be informed of his obligations of potential cost.
recoimnend the enactment of a Model Code regulating small loan and finance
We
companies operating within the City limits.
We recoimnend a vigorous attempt be made to hire or train a minority group
member as an employee in the Consumer Protection Department of the City that
will assure that minority persons who have consumer problems will not be
inhibited in asking the City to act on their behalf.
Employment
The 1970 Census information dealing with employment and unemployment,
and levels of income are not available at this time. The Market Analyst of Florida
Employment Service (FSES) informs us that they are not allowed to keep un
State
employment statistics by race. The most recent breakdown we have on unemployment
is the Study of Unempyment and Under-employment in St. Petersburg, Florida July
August, 1968 conducted by the Tampa Urban League, Inc. as requested by the
Employment Steering Committee of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce following
the Sanitation Worker’s Strike of 1968. The study was conducted in a survey area
which was predominately inhabited by Negroes. Random sampling in the survey area
produced a job profile of the adults of the area. The sample included 196 families
and 638 persons. Basically the survey demonstrated three things: long term
residency of the population in St. Petersburg, large scale unemployment, and a high 1€
of hopelessness among the minority group members interviewed.
-
“757 of the families surveyed have lived in St. Petersburg for 10 years or more;
847 have lived in St. Petersburg for five years or more. The majority of the
persons surveyed are in the unskilled and service categories of employment. Based
on the study’s estimates, there are 5,920 persons 16 years of age or older in the
total population survey area who might represent a potential labor market. But,
as the study summarizes “the hopelessness expressed by over 50°h of the respondents
indicates that quite a bit of effort will be required to reach the unemployed and
to involve them in meaningful programs.” “Persons who looked for jobs indicated
that they usually looked in places other than the employment agencies.”
A study done by the Urban League in 1940 remarked about minority workers who
stood “on the corner of 2nd Avenue South and 9th Street,” and operated their
5.
QALS “FC)
‘]
[J
fj
[]
ST • PETERSBURG
-
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL, 1972
’ Evidentally
6
own employment agency instead of using the employment service.’
11th Street at Central-now
years-—it
is
the street corner has changed in thirty
Service
remains for
Employment
but the basic situation of mistrust of State
should
be
employment
a goal for
Full
the undertrained minority group member.
employment
and
training
or
f
the City of St. Petersburg, and opportunities
offered by the School Administration and the Florida, State Employment Services,
private business or the Chamber of Cotmnerce JOBS program should be coordinated
and publically accountable towards that end. Many federally funded programs
are operating in this area in this City presently, and much benefit could be
derived from City operated coordination of these programs for its minorities.
The Community Relations Director of the City of Clearwater is initiating a job
7 in
training, federally funded Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc.
Northern Pinellas County and has indicated his willingness to open a down—County
branch. Such a program helps those school drop-outs who have been unable to be
helped by conventional training. Such a program is minority operated, and has
proven quite successful in other cities.
The Community Alliance operated JOBS program has placed 671 south Pinellas
County minority members in “entry level” jobs, where they have remained employed
for six months or more since 1968. They plan to concentrate their employment
efforts in 1971—72 on getting minority members into unions.
City employment of minority group members in skilled and managerial categories
falls behind the Equal Employment Opportunities provisions of Title IV of the
1964 Civil Rights Act as it relates to private industry. This Act will be
updated to include governmental employment of minorities in 1972, and it is recommend
that the City of St. Petersburg more actively recruit and train minority group
members in other-than-menial job classifications. Such a program has been
initiated and pursued by our neighboring City of Clearwater, again by its
Community Relations Director, who goes to the local schools and arranges for
recruitment seminars for private industry and government personnel directors.
Another shortcoming in municipal employment is the Civil Service Examination. This
examination includes much extraneous material unrelated to the position applied for,
and works a hardship on minority applicants who must deal with culturally biased
questions. In Clearwater any applicant who fails to pass the Civil Service Exam
ination by a small margin—-who shows potential—-is given an Aptitude Test. If he
passes the Aptitude Test he is put to work. In six months he may retake the
Civil Service Examination. Their experience indicates that the minority group
member, with the positive experience of on the job acceptance, usually takes and
passes the Civil Service Examination.
Our recoimnendat ions:
We recommend that the City of St. Petersburg create a Department of Conmninity
Relations, with a professional Director, professionally qualified staff and
clerical help to implement our foregoing recommendations in housing, consumer
affairs and employment.
We recounnend that a representative board of citizens be created to direct and
assist those programs and policies the Community Relations Board and the
Community Relations Director feel are necessary to implement our recommendations
and to promote understanding between minorities and the rest of the City.
The Community Relations Board should consist of no less than five nor more than
fifteen members, selected by the Mayor, with the approval of Council for a term
6.
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
J
-
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL, 1972
of one year, and chosen on the basis of sound judgment and comnnrnity
responsibility. Every effort should be made to have a cross section of
individuals by age, race, sex and experience. They should encompass
bankers, realtors, builders, city planners, merchants, teachers, civic
organizations and other individuals from all neighborhoods and stations
in life. The Coimiunity Relations Board would implement the Fair Housing
Ordinance, and the Director of Coximiunity Relations would assist the
Board in this work.
Further, it is felt that either the Community Relations Department, or its
Branch Office should be located in the center of the minority population to
offer continuing assistance in Housing, Consumer Affairs, Job and Training
Information, Ed.ucational and Social Supportive Services referral--with
assessment of each individual case and follow up on its disposition.
We recovznend that the Civil Service Rmnation be changed so as to be
job related, and, in addition, that Clearwater’s method as described above
be considered.
City Services —
Public Safçy - continued support for minority group member participation
in public safety employment, Coximiunity Relations Division plans of Team Policing an
Sensitivity Training for all public safety personnel. Because of the critical
role the public safety officer has in making judgments which may involve life or
death, and because many incidents involving minority group members may trigger
widespread violence, we therefore feel that psychological tests, and the recom
mendation of a psychiatrist as to the emotional stability of a candidate for
public safety employment should be required.
Parks & Recreation - We are in complete agreement with the Director of Parks
& Recreation that adequate recreation centers are a positive deterrent to crime, an
a necessity for the physical and mental well being of our youth.
The Recreation Centers in the predominately minority inhabited areas are inadequate
size to serve the pqpulation of children under the age of 18_years of age. There a
some 13,176 children under the age of 18 years of age living in the seven pre
dominate} minority inhabited inner city census tracts: 206, 207, 209, 210, 211
and 216.
Of this number over 4,000 have no father as head of the family.
These children live wijin an area of 1,747 acres that contains 84 acres of
parks and playgrounds.
Selecting any comparable group of census tracts in. area in any section of
St. Petersburg, which is not minority inhabited, and you will find a gross
inequity in services in parks and recreation offered to the population. For
example, census tracts 222 and 224 combined would give a land area of 1810
acres. The child population of persons 18 years of age and under is 3,837.
This figure is less than one third of the inner city child population of
13,176, and less still than the 4,087 inner city children who have no father
as head of the family. Yet these two census tracts have one hundred and
seventy one (171) acres of parks and recreation lands--more than twice the
area purchased and mniged for the inner city youths.
We do not feel that coixixmmity maintenance of mini parks and green spots in the
inner city area is as beneficial to the total coximiunity as minority coimmmity
participation in the placement and layout of these small open space areas.
As a matter of experience the continuing maintenance of these areas should be
borne by the City until such time that vigorous neighborhood improvement groups
arise who can demonstrate they can assume the burden of continuing maintenance, and
wish to participate with the city in these projects. It is an exercise in futility
togiveagift with strings attached, and expect area residents to view the gift
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
C.
-
APRIL, 1972
MINORITY RELATIONS
We would reccnimie4 and encourage full recreational use in after school and
evening hours of all schools in the inner city minority inhabited area, and
commend the Parks & Recreation Department for its summer Support Program
by the Federal government).
(financed
To what extent do the minorities feel politically isolated and what_forms does
this isolation talce?
minority group members are
Our accompanying statistics document that when
vigorously. However, the
their
franchise
registered to vote, they exercise
popu1ation in
0
the b1ac
of
to
3/lOtb.s
that less than 1/5
figures also show
vote.
to
are
registered
those predominately black precincts
r
It is our recotimendation that inner city special services be initiated by the
Supervisor of Elections to assure greater minority group participation in their
government. The use of temporary and mobile registration units would expand
citizen opportunities to register and vote, as would Saturday registration in
non—election months and evening registration.
We would hope that the present city voting districts
would be done so based on population, not registered
be made so that the predominately minority inhabited
gerrymandered into several districts—-as it has been
0.
that are to be redistricted
voters, and that every effort
inner city would not be
in our most recent past.
What vehicles or organizations in our community are currently engaged in
promoting understandip,g between minorities and the total comnunity? Are
they successful? Wy —- or wh_y not?
We have studied and contacted every group and individual that we felt might
have some insight or part to play in promoting understanding between the
minorities and the total comminiity. Some of those groups are mentioned in
this report, many are listed in the League of Women Voter’s Poverty Profile,
and some persons and groups were among those that we interviewed or invited
to attend our meetings.
Our research and interviews have convinced us that there is a vacuum in a
delivery system for establishing and maintaining understanding between the
minorities and the total conznunity.
E.
What role can or should our City govern
relations?
nt take in guestions of minority
The method of problem solving in minority relations in this coimnunity is
personalistic and diffuse, depending almost entirely upon volunteer action and
the force and interplay of individuals with varying degrees of commitment and
ability. This is wonderful so long as it functions effectively to be a problem
solving device for the community. It is our opinion that this method of problem
solving is not effective enough and needs to be augmented with professional,
objective, persistaxit, cohesive, coordinated methodology that a City Department
of Community Relations could offer. Transportation, both State and local, School
and Library services, Public Housing, Recreation site planning, 1-75 displacement,
Trash Collection, Consumer Affairs and a multitude of other governmental services
are all areas critical to minority relations in this City, but no one in the City
administration can speak for the minorities in this cotmmmity in a professional,
objective, documented and effective manner, properly research by staff on a day
to day basis.
There is no doub in our minds, after interviewing a large number of community
leaders, both black and white, studying their personal brainstorming ideas for
.q- ai,-+
occ—i- t- the
,
.4 -1,
a
4 .s., 0
—
.,r,
arsi ,,t4 .s
GOALS FOR ST. PETERSBURG
-
MINORITY RELATIONS
APRIL, 1972
momnt, or could hope to be effected,--tha.t professional exploration and
coordination is desperately needed....for the benefit of all of the
co”” ity.
*
*
*
FOOrNcY]ES
1.
2.
J
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
elizabeth Whitney, “Substandard Housing: Fancy Words For Slung’, St. Petersburg
Times, January 23, 1972, p. lB
city of St. Petersburg’s Workable Program application for Recertification for the
U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development p. 10.
City of St. Petersburg Planning Department, Housing and Relocation Study, 1969,
r
Warren N. Banner, “A Study of the Social and Economic Conditions of the Negro
Population of St. Petersburg, Florida,”November, 1945,
p. 81.
Douglas Doubleday, “Reshaping the City: About All Those Plans”, St. Petersburg
Times, 1965, speaks of “Nolen in 1923...suggesting the City acquire (Methodist
Town) for a play and park area”.
Monty Hoyt, “A First, Faint Dawn Rises On Lawndale’, The Christian Science Monito
February 7, 1972, p. 9.
Ralph Fairbairn, Assistant Vice—President First National Bank, Remarks prepared
for the Reèidential Rehabilitation Symposium, Citizens Advisory Conmilttee
for the Elimination and Prevention of Slums & Blight, December 8, 1967,
St. Petersburg, p. 38.
See photostate copy of Realtor’s map
attached.
Charles Patrick, “Turville Urges Realtors”, St. Petersburg Times, November 10,
19
Elaine Johansen, Migration of Population by Race 1960—197Q, St. Petersburg
see attached.
City of St. Petersburg Planning Department, Neighborhood Analyses, 1965,
p. 65.
Joe Oglesby, “Crime In The Streets”, St. Petersburg Times, January 3, 1972.
Housing & Relocation, op. cit., p. 4.
Ibid., p. 21.
John Herbers, “New Urban Trap Threatens”, St. Petersburg Times, April 2, 1972, 15
Banner, op. cit., p. 16.
Richard D. Jordan, Civic Affairs Manager, Smith, Kline & French Laboratories of
Philadelphia, Keynote Speaker at the Residential Rehabilitation Symposium
(See footnote 7 above), commended the Opportunities Industrialization Center,
p.50.
1970 Census. General Characteristics of the Population.
City of St. Petersburg Planning Department, Generalized Land Use Plan, March
1970
pp. A 1-3.
The Rev. Robert GeTnmer, Selected Data On Registration and Voting, St. Petersburg,
April, 1972
see attached.
-
-
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
-
1
-
-
Iimih
-
RVtPR
INTERSTATE
SLRND
•
P
City
cç
Al
Iimits(
—
-‘-I
246zi.
24O.0 ‘-3’-,
City
247
IiA
SNORI.
SR
TN
228.01
SD Ti.
2282
F]
H
TAMPA
22ND
8AY
BOCA
CIEGA
BAY
I
I
20103
£2 ND
t’.-
-
AVE
AS
P
.-5WIV
flqr(
LAS
CENSUS TRACTS
MAP A’
TABLE 1
NEIGHBORHOODS BY NA) A4D CENSUS TR.ACr NUMBER
ii
Census
Tract
Neighborhood
DesiRnation
Census
Tract
Neighborhood
DesiRnation
1.01
Childs Park South
25.01
Tyrone
1.02
Maximo
25.02
Southern Comfort
2,01
Lakewood
25.03
Northwest
2.02
Bay Vi ta
26.01
White’s Lake
2.03
Baypoint
26.02
Westgate
3
Big Bayou
27
Mount Vernon
4
La.sing Park
28 • 01.
Clearvj.w
5
Bartlett Park
28.02
Leilie Lake
6
Lakeview
29
Booker Creek
7
Perkins
30
Ponce de Leon
8
Childs Park North
31
Norwood
9
Gibbs
32
Woodlawn Circle
10
Jordan-Mercy
33
St. Paul’s
11
Gas Plant
34
St. Anthony’.
12
J1elrose
35
Crescent
13
Roser Park-Bayboro
36
North Ward
14
Downtown-South
37
Old Northeast
13
Downtown-North
38
Euclid
16
Methodiat Town
39
North Shore
17
Southward Ho
40.01
Snell Isle
18
West Central
40.02
Northeast Park
19
Goose Pond
40 • 03
Shore Acres
20
Pairmont
41
Arcadia
21
Interbay
42
Allendale-Harris
22
Forrest Hills
43.01
Meadowlawn-East
23
Bearcreek-Eaglecrest
43 • 02
Meadowlawn-West
24.01
Pasadena-Causeway Isles
44.01.
North St. Petersburg
2&.fl2
,.g
ke
N!GR.ATION OF POPULATION B1 RACE 1960—1970
ST. PETERSBURGS 1970
Census
Tract
rr
4
-
‘
,
—
‘•‘
—
t
—
.,
—
—
—
—
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
2.37
238
239
240
241
242
243
City
—
*
*
White Population 1960
3,316
6,216
5,432
2,555
3,878
3,892
2,677
4,362
314
388
198
3,294
2,632
2,271
3,035
856
1,60.5
2,535
2,516
3,311
4,608
3,662
5,518
8,162
8,374
5,2.35
2,819
5,295
4,681
3,325
1,761
3,000
2,769
2,833
3,797
2,817
2,552
2,382
2,936
6,098
3,148
5,339
6,205
5,508
157,110
White Popu—
lation 1970
4,971
12,199
6,203
2,395
3,429
694
413
3,756
34
84
84
670
2,410
2,615
4,002
856
1,336
1,840
2,213
2,867
4,399
3,882
6,345
10,903
13,921
7,701
3,441
5,955
4,471
3,229
1,645
2,734
2,593
2,454
3,922
3,689
2,930
2,461
2,029
12,084
3,883
5,235
8,291
12,368
183,636
Increase
pecrea.sg
+1,655
+5,983
+ 771
160
—
449
—3,198
—2,264
606
280
304
114
—2,624
222
+ 344
+ 967
0
269
695
303
444
— 209
+ 220
+ 827
+2,741
+5,547
+2,486
÷ 622
+ 660
— 210
96
116
266
— 176
— 379
+ 125
+ 872
+ 378
+ 79
907
+5,986
+ 735
109
+2,086
+6,860
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Negro Population 1960
10
1
1
2
2
95
2,304
5
7,050
5,923
4,378
1,242
11
138
1
2,856
3
1
1
3
48
15
2
12
7
5
4
1
1
3
9
2
9
0
3
0
2
2
1
14
4
0
2
13
24,188
Negro Popu—
lation 1970
566
19
11
2
255
5,012
6,354
115
5,939
4,187
2,229
4,984
37
46
3
1,252
4
584
168
86
13
3
4
4
8
2
1
2
1
0
0
0
4
0
4
2
0
0
1
3
0
3
0
3
31,911
Increase
(pçcrease
+556
+ 18
+ 10
0
+253
+4,917
+4,320
+110
—1,111
—1,736
—2,149
+3,742
+26
—92
+ 2
—1,604
+ 1
+583
+167
+83
—35
—12
+ 2
— 8
+ 1
— 3
3
+ 1
0
3
9
— 2
5
0
+ 1
+ 2
2
— 2
0
—11
4
+ 3
— 2
—10
8
93
3
99
97
96
88
7
1
59
24
7
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
685 persons were listed as “Othex. When this figure
is combined with the white and
Negro population figures listed above, the total 1970
Census for the City of St.
Petersburg equals 216,232.
Table compiled from Population Prof i1, St. Petersbu
rg, Florida, 1964 and the 1970 Census
by Elaine Johansen, Goals Program, Minority Relations
Coiiittee, March, 1972.
14.
County
69.81
35.28
17.85
the Office of the Supervisor of Election, Pinellas County and the
le compiled frcmz Voter Registration Statistics from
r, Goals Program, Minority Relations Commnittee, April, 1972.
1970 Census by the Rev. Robert G
otal
11,174 264,005 184,324
50.54%
31,911
184321
otal City
252,834
14.8
216,232
6354
413
-
93.6
3916
2869
6785
207
207
207
2
2 A
522,329
65.77
66.60
65.70
815
597
1412
1239
910
2149
31.67%
1153
777
1930
30.37%
86
133
219
53.02%
99.2
—
20.81
20.80
20.81
66.12
67.49
67.75
650
573
1223
983
849
1832
969
844
1813
14
5
19
3374
2612
5986
209
209
1
I A
5939
19.26
21.93
20.43
67.50
378
560
26.44%
250
19.96%
310
36.21%
59.1
2118
1252
856
216
5
3
14.86
57.81
344
595
25.707.
563
25.26%
32
38.09%
96.3
2315
2229
84
211
16.69
66.82
715
1070
24.97%
1032
24.64%
38
45.23%
97.7
4285
4187
84
210
15.79
57.10
893
88.0
19.79
19.37
19.58
59.14
59.51
59.33
553
566
1119
5656
935
951
1886
33.0%
1564
27.65%
578
823
1401
27.95%
1179
23.65%
357
128
485
69.88%
385
57.46%
4984
87.7
2793
2921
5714
°i. of Popu
lation
670
Z Negro
Total Popu—
lation—1970
212
—
Negro Population—1970
5012
A
OTAI
—
White Popu—
lation-1970
POPULATION VOTING
GENERAL ELECTION
Total °h of Regis—
tered Voters
694
Census
Tract
POPI)LATION REGISTERED
Total
Negro
White
SElECTED DATA. ON REGISTRATION AND VOTING
ST. PERSBURG, FLORIDA
206
206
206
:inct
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]
CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
“The Sunshine
COUNCIL-MANAGER GOVERNMENT
city”
May 26, 1972
General Theodore J. Conway, Ret.
Chairman of the Executive Conuiiittee
Goals for St. Petersburg
City Hall
St. Petersburg, Florida
Re:
Final Report
Neighborhood Associations Goals Committee
Dear Mr. Chairman:
It gives me pleasure to submit to you the accompanying Final
Report of the Neighborhood Associations Goals Committee. Attached
thereto is a resume of the background study and the methodology
employed in arriving at our conclusions upon which the recommendations
contained in our final report are predicated.
I am certain that all of the members of our Committee will agree
with me when I say that our participation in this overall endeavor
has been a privilege and an enlightening experience and that we hope
that our contribution will serve a useful purpose toward achieving a
better and a brighter future for the City of St. Petersburg and all
of its residents.
Sincerely yours,
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS GOALS COMMITTEE
By:
Committee Members:
Lexy Ford
Rev. William Hunt
William K McFarlin
Ed S. Myers
ERJ/s jg