January 4, 2007, marked my two-year anniversary of taking office as Clerk of the
Circuit Court of Pinellas County. Building an organization dedicated to customer service
excellence...that is the key focus of the Pinellas County Clerk’s Office. Throughout 2006 and
2007, we initiated new services to offer to the public, as well as worked to improve on the
services we previously provided.
This annual report will look at our success and our strategy for future progress. It will
provide an overview of the duties, services and accomplishments of this office during
the fiscal year 2006-2007. The Clerk’s Office’s performance throughout this time is best
described by our “Pillars of Achievement.” These pillars show both how we implemented
innovations toward improving customer service and our vision going forward. Ultimately,
all of our efforts lead to the final and most important pillar of achievement, customer
satisfaction. Here are our strategic pillars:
TRAINING: Today’s world and today’s technology changes at such a rapid pace that managing change
throughout the Office is paramount to maintaining a smoothly run organization. Our employees are encouraged
to drive their own personal successes by actively advancing their career through education.
ADMINISTRATION: We believe leaders truly change things; great leaders create positive changes.
Our administration is made up of leaders who strive to mentor their successors. Communication, positive
reinforcement, training advancements, and mutual respect are the building blocks of our administration.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Our outreach projects foster positive working relationships both
internally, among our employees and the government agencies we work with, and externally, with civic groups,
charitable organizations and local citizens service groups to benefit you, the citizens of Pinellas County.
FINANCE: The Clerk is the Chief Financial Officer for the County. In that role we are fiscally
responsible for protecting the County’s funds.
TECHNOLOGY: The Clerk’s Office has adapted to new technology by embracing advancements
that will ultimately benefit the customer. In many ways, our technological progress becomes part of our training
initiatives, which form new customer service benefits and create customer satisfaction.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: The Pillars of Achievement all lead up to this one, the
mission of the Clerk’s Office: Customer Satisfaction. We work with the community and with other
agencies, while looking to our administrative leaders to help us navigate through modern technology and training,
all to better serve our citizens.
Internally, the Clerk’s Office’s various departments must coordinate their efforts in order to streamline
our processes and improve our efficiency. Externally, the Clerk’s Office, now more than ever, is forging strong
relationships with other agencies. These strengthened lines of communication improve the quality of service we
offer and create new avenues of service convenience for citizens.
Sincerely,
Ken Burke,
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Pinellas County, Florida
Pillars of Achievement
Community
Outreach
Customer
Satisfaction
Technology
Finance
Administration
Training
THERE’S A WAY TO DO IT BETTER -- FIND IT!
-THOMAS EDISON
Life’s Circle
The Clerk of Court in your “circle” of life.
Many people don’t realize that the Clerk’s Office is at the center of our daily lives. The Clerk of Court is far more
important than most people can imagine. In fact, the Florida Statutes identify more than 1,000 individual responsibilities of
the Clerk of the Court. These responsibilities make up three encompassing key functions of your Clerk’s Office:
1. Serving the public and recording your history by preserving the records of your life such as marriage licenses, property deeds,
passport applications, divorce records and more;
2. Assisting the Judiciary or the court system by accepting criminal and civil case filings, summonsing and assemblying juror
pools, processing traffic citations, collecting fees, fines and restitution. In this function, the Clerk’s Office truly acts as a
cornerstone of our democratic system;
3. Protecting your tax dollars by managing your county budget and making sound
investments to maximize the potential of your county funding.
By the Numbers:
Numbers based on 2006 fiscal year to provide an overview of average
annual activities of the Clerk’s Office.
658,630 Misdemeanor/Traffic pleadings filed
203,295 Traffic Citations processed
28,410 New Felony cases filed
37,082 Bonds posted
848 Cases sealed and expunged
32,937 Payments received via the Clerk’s website
21,964 DHSMV (driver license) reinstatements
124,487 receipts processed totaling $17,115,847.41
28,939 Court sessions attended by our Court Assistants
5,834 items of evidence processed
1,148,000 pieces of outgoing mail processed by the Clerk’s Mail Centers
493,055 Official records/documents recorded
19,867 Passport applications processed
7,612 Marriage licenses issued
1,729 Marriage ceremonies performed
10,288 Small Claims cases filed
3,230 Mortgage foreclosures filed
12,940 Family Division cases filed (avg. 4,000 divorces; 350 adoptions annually)
17,980 Other Civil cases filed
(avg. 7,400 petitions for injunction for protection from domestic
& repeat violence filed annually)
1,794 Mental Health (Baker Act) and Substance Abuse (Marchman Act) cases filed
4,138 Probate Estates (Wills) cases filed
378 Guardianship cases filed
5,862,000 Documents microfilmed
7,770 Cubic feet of records destroyed in accordance with Florida Statutes
1,780,476 images of Board of County Commission (BCC) records prepped, scanned and indexed
51,323 Jurors summoned
3,700 County employees’ pay checks processed - 95% direct (electronic) deposit
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LEFT: The Clearwater Bar
Association works with the
Clerk’s Office to organize
and present the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)
Seminar. Pictured second
from right, Jewell Cole,
former Clearwater Bar Assoc.
President.
New employees participated in both “Clerks at Work”
(pictured above) and “Pinellas County’s Structure and
Services” (pictured below) seminars to equip them with
a better knowledge and awareness about all departments
in the Clerk’s Office and Pinellas County Government as a
whole.
LEFT: Assistant State
Attorney Bill Burgess;
Attorney Susan Demers
of St. Petersburg College;
Clearwater Bar Association
President Gregory Showers;
and County Attorneys
Betsy Steg and Suzanne
Mucklow participate in a
Clerk’s Office UPL seminar.
RIGHT: Former
Chief Judge Demers
speaks to the Clerk’s
Leadership Team
ABOVE: The Clerk’s Office prepares for new
Customer Service Call Centers.
Genius is initiative on fire.
-Holbrook Jackson
ABOVE: County Personnel Human
Resources Manager Beverly Waldron
participated in an informative,
interactive session with the Clerk’s
Leadership Team.
ABOVE: The Clerk’s Office Leadership Team
members during a brainstorming session
at St. Petersburg College’s EpiCenter.
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Training - Initiative:
We believe in preparing for the future by laying the groundwork for a solid foundation, on which to build a
financially stable, capable, trustworthy government agency, by continually offering new training courses to improve
our employees’ knowledge and efficiency. Our accomplishments that resulted from our endeavors to give our
employees training opportunities are:
• Ensured sufficient training was provided to new staff in all areas in order to meet customer satisfaction
expectations and improve efficiency
• Enhanced training opportunities at all levels and encouraged further education with reimbursement
programs
• PARTICIPATED IN PINELLAS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT FORUM, WHICH
COVERED THE SIX BASIC QUESTIONS OF CAREER AND LIFE MANAGEMENT TO FOSTER UPWARD MOBILITY
• Held office-wide Customer Service Training at St. Petersburg College, Seminole Campus
• Added an on-site Certified Public Manager course to create more accessibility to this program
• Worked with County Personnel to create new training programs
• WORKED WITH THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION TO CREATE AN ANNUAL UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF
LAW SEMINAR
• Developed and implemented file-management software, Call Center and Notary Public training programs
with fantastic success to prime our employees for newly offered services
• Local spouse abuse shelters provided our clerks with Domestic Violence sensitivity training
• Instructed staff on how to apply the principles of records management to further streamline the Clerk’s
file keeping processes
• PUBLIC DEFENDER BOB DILLINGER, STATE ATTORNEY BERNIE MCCABE, THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT’S
THEN-CHIEF JUDGE DEMERS AND CURRENT CHIEF JUDGE ROBERT MORRIS SPOKE AT LEADERSHIP
MEETINGS TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THE ARM OF GOVERNMENT THEY WORK FOR
CONTRIBUTES TO THE COURT SYSTEM AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE CLERK’S FUNCTIONS
• Conducted a Strategic Planning and Collaborative Lab event with our Leadership Team
• Implemented Succession Management by cross-training, scheduling development classes and mentoring,
as well as enhanced content and frequency of training programs
• ENABLED MORE EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN FACC (FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COURT CLERKS)
SEMINARS, WHICH OFFER A BROAD RANGE OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS AND MORE
• Conducted an office-wide in-service day with breakout sessions and other training and team building
sessions at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater Campus
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We look to our Administration to enhance our ability to manage our people and their
skills. Our philosophy is that when given the tools to properly manage their duties,
employees at all levels will provide top quality work. By advancing our “people skills”
through training, technology, outreach and direction, we lay a foundation for a strong,
effective administration.
RIGHT: Semi-annual supervisors
meetings encouraged better
communications throughout all
departments in the Clerk’s Office.
ABOVE: Ken Burke serves as a member of the St.
Petersburg College Board of Trustees. He received
the appointment to the Board by former Governor
Jeb Bush, and was later re-appointed by current
Governor Charlie Crist.
RIGHT: Claretha Harris, Chief
Deputy Director Finance
Division; Ken Burke and
Dave Libby, Director County
Personnel, (now retired) work
together to develop new
ideas.
LEFT: Clerk Burke
received the Liberty
Bell Award from
the Clearwater Bar
Association at the Annual
Law Day Luncheon.
Circuit Court Judge Nelly
Khouzam presented the
award.
ABOVE: The Clerk’s Management Internship program helps students
broaden their scope of court operations knowledge and gives them a
“behind the scenes” perspective.
Time is neutral
and does not change things.
With courage and initiative,
LEADERS CHANGE THINGS.
-Jesse Jackson
ABOVE: Ken Burke is sworn in as
Treasurer of the Florida Association
of Court Clerks’ (FACC) Executive
Committee.
ABOVE: Many employees took advantage of the
Certified Public Managers’ (CPM) program. New
managers found the CPM training greatly improved their administrative and leadership skills.
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Administration - People Management:
• On-going, group effort of contributing to the website, with suggestions for improvements
• OPEN-DOOR POLICY THROUGHOUT ALL LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT
• Empowerment of managers and assistant managers at department levels
• Implementation of monthly teambuilding and departmental meetings,
quarterly staff meetings,
»
semi-annual meetings with supervisors and employees, and
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one-on-one sessions in all departments
»
• ENHANCED COMMUNICATION VIA INTRANET, INTERNET, E-MAIL BULLETINS AND THE CLERK’S INTERNAL
NEWSLETTER, “AT YOUR SERVICE”
• Digital distribution via the Intranet of Clerk’s Policies & Procedures handbook saved on printing costs
and paper and provided easy accessibility to all employees
• Promotion of procedural conformity by updating manuals and posting them on the Intranet
• Implementation of monitoring procedures to ensure effective quality control
• ESTABLISHED COMMITTEE TO FORMALIZE A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MODEL (PIM) (A PIM is a tool or
method for employees to communicate improvement opportunities and participate in the process of implementing those changes.)
• Continued Management Internship and Certified Public Manager programs with ongoing success
• Combined Court Services and Operational Services into one division to maximize leadership efforts
• Continued to include employees in all phases of decision-making to ensure our primary focus is on
workable solutions to benefit the organization as a whole
• Developed continuous auditing program and ehanced the audit selection process
• STREAMLINED PROCESSES TO PREPARE FOR NEW SYSTEMS
Ken Burke’s active role in the court system embodies the philosophy of advancing a strong, effective
administration. Some recent examples of recognition of his work are:
[ He was recently sworn in as the Treasurer of the Florida Association of Court Clerks’ (FACC) Executive Committee.
[ The FACC nominated, and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis appointed Ken to serve on the Judicial
Management Council. The council provides a forum for effective two-way communication between citizens and the courts.
[ Former Chief Justice Pariente invited Ken to participate in the Florida Supreme Court’s ‘Access to Justice’ to improve
access to the courts by pro se litigants; and to serve on a committee to review the Supreme Court’s judicial plan.
[ Upon completion of an extensive training program on the duties and functions of the Clerk’s Office, Ken was certified
by the Florida Supreme Court.
[ The Clearwater Bar Association recognized Ken for “outstanding service in encouraging a greater respect for law and
the courts” and for “contributing to the effective functioning of government” when they honored him with the Liberty Bell
Award, which was presented to him by Circuit Court Judge Nelly Khouzam.
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LEFT: Kiwanis Club is just one of
the many civic groups where Ken
Burke is known for his inspiring
and informative speeches.
BELOW: The various departments
independently choose to generously
give to numerous charities during
the winter holiday season.
ABOVE & RIGHT: During the United Way’s
Day of Caring, Clerk’s employees painted
a fresh look on the Sutherland Center,
a community place that offers young
people an alternative to hanging out on
the streets.
RIGHT: The Clerk’s Office
was asked to participate in
Stetson University, College of
Law’s panel on R-E-S-P-E-C-T
in the work place.
RIGHT: The
Clerk’s Office
welcomed
“Rusty” the
seeing-eye dog
during his
training by
Karen Hamilton
of the Court
Assistance
department.
If there is any great secret of success in life, it
lies in the ability to put yourself in the other
person’s place and to see things from his point
of view -- as well as your own.
- Henry Ford
ABOVE: The Clerk’s Office assists with
many legal self-help events throughout
the County. Members of Mt. Carmel
Church attend a session on representing
yourself in court and Clerk’s services.
LEFT: Ken Burke speaks to the NAACP’s
panel for the “Black on Black Crime
Prevention Symposium.”
LEFT: The Clerk’s Office
teams up with other County
government agencies for
“Paint Your Heart Out.”
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Community Outreach - Serving Citizens:
Clerk’s Office employees participated in a wealth of community outreach programs and charitable events as
representatives of our office in an effort to foster good will throughout the community and give above and beyond
the Clerk’s call of duty to the citizens we serve. Here are some of the activities and organizations both the Clerk,
Ken Burke, and the Clerk’s Office staff actively participate in each year:
• Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Annual Adoption Day
• THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY AND THE
SIXTH CIRCUIT JUDICIARY
• National Law Enforcement Week
• United Way - Children’s Book Drive, Annual Fundraising Campaign and Day of Caring
• Walk to Cure Diabetes at Fort DeSoto Park
• PAINT YOUR HEART OUT
• Rusty the Seeing Eye Dog - training
• Florida Blood Services donations
• Locks of Love - employees donated their own hair to use as wigs for children and adults who undergo
chemotherapy and lose their hair
• Annual Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure (Breast cancer research)
• PARC’s “Wish Upon a Star” gift program for needy families during the winter holiday season
• AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION’S TAMPA BAY HEART WALK
In addition, Ken Burke has made himself and the Clerk’s Leadership Team available for a broad range of
speaking engagements, forums and information fairs of various civic and community groups such as:
• Local YMCA, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs, Chambers of Commerce, the Exchange Club of Northwest St. Petersburg (focus on prevention of child abuse) and church groups
• The Boy Scouts of America’s Annual Career Fest
• Great American Teach-In (various local elementary and middle schools)
• LAW WEEK - HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM (SEMINOLE AND CLEARWATER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS)
• Stetson College of Law’s Panel on R-E-S-P-E-C-T: How to Effectively Manage Your Staff
• The Fred G. Minnis Bar Association events
• The Community Outreach Coalition -Johnnie Ruth Clark Health Center
• Clearwater Bar Monthly Meeting Presentation - Navigating the Clerk’s website
• Attorney lunches
• Library meetings and events
• NAACP EVENTS: “CONSCIENCE OF A NATION; ENHANCING DIVERSITY,” AND THE
YOUTH COUNCIL’S “BLACK ON BLACK CRIME
P
REVENTION” SYMPOSIUM
ABOVE: The Clerk’s Office Tampa Bay Heart Walk team.
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The Clerk’s Office has a history of partnering with other court-related agencies to
resolve issues that arise with new legislation, such as the retention of DNA evidence
and the Anti-Murder Law. These partnerships actively promote teamwork among the
Clerk’s various departments and the agencies with which they interact.
ABOVE: Pinellas County
Sheriff’s Office
ABOVE: Sixth Judicial Circuit - Judges’ Luncheon
ABOVE: Judge George Greer and Ken
Burke. As recordkeeper to the Court,
the Clerk’s Office works to maintain
good relationships through open lines of
communication with the Judiciary.
ABOVE: Former Clerks Pete Mullendore and
Karleen De Blaker join current Clerk Ken Burke
for special occasions.
LEFT: Ken Burke
presents retired
Circuit Judge
Susan Schaeffer
with St. Petersburg
College’s
“Outstanding
Alumnus” award.
ABOVE: Ken Burke, Property Appraiser Jim Smith,
State Attorney Bernie McCabe and Tax Collector
Diane Nelson celebrate the Constitutional Officers’
commemorative book second edition publication.
Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes
a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
- Vince Lombardi
ABOVE: Supreme Court Judge Clarence
Thomas greets Chief Deputy Director
Myriam Irizarry after she is sworn in
to the United States Supreme Court.
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Community Outreach - Teamwork:
• FLORIDA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BARBARA PARIENTE CHOSE KEN BURKE TO REPRESENT
CLERKS FROM LARGE COUNTIES IN THE WORKSHOP TITLED “JUSTICE FOR ALL FLORIDIANS: ENSURING
MEANINGFUL ACCESS FOR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS”
• Partnered with the Pinellas County Government’s Information Systems department to offer free, inhouse system training to our County customers
• Provided special limited storage to Heritage Village Museum
• Began delivering print jobs to more County locations to better serve our Pinellas County Government
customers
• Initiated courier pick-up and delivery service to the West Pasco Government Center to benefit the
Courts
• Started a centralized pick-up service in the Clearwater Mail Center for FedEx, UPS and DHL/Airborne
saving county agencies time and money
• Took over the responsibility of processing cash bonds and surety bonds previously done by the Pinellas
County Sheriff ’s Office
• ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RESEARCHING ALL MOTIONS AND ORDERS ON ESTREATURES AND
JUDGMENTS FOR THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
• Began pilot program for automated records management system for Board Records making records
available online to internal customers
• COLLABORATED WITH UTILITIES, PROPERTY APPRAISER AND TAX COLLECTOR ON IMPLEMENTING UNI
FORM COLLECTION METHOD FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION ASSESSMENTS FOR LEALMAN AREA
• Held the first “Judges’ Luncheon” at the Criminal Justice Center to enable the Clerk’s staff and the
Judiciary’s staff to foster a positive workplace environment
• Collaborated with Pinellas County’s Office of Management and Budget and Personnel Department on
retirement planning and implementation of educating employees about the planning
• PARTNERED WITH DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES (DHSMV) TO ENABLE
OUR OFFICES TO SELL COPIES OF DRIVER LICENSE HISTORIES
• Collaborated with other county agencies on a task force, evaluating the benefits of a county-wide
content management system
• Worked with Pinellas County Communications to develop and broadcast instructional videos, create
printed collateral, and broadcast public service announcements via Pinellas Channel 18
• WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY LAW PROGRAM, GULFCOAST LEGAL SERVICES AND THE SIXTH JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO CREATE SELF HELP CENTERS FOR PRO SE LITIGANTS
• Enhanced electronic scheduling for Value Adjustment Board (VAB) process streamlining the workflow
between the Clerk’s Office and the Property Appraiser
• Developed and implemented a new electronic document management system as a repository for all
Board of County Commissioners’ ordinances, resolutions, contracts and official actions, which
is accessible to all County departments
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LEFT: The Pinellas County
Clerk’s Office returned
$800,000 to the State from
the Court budget in 2006,
shifting from a deficit county
in 2005 to being recognized
as a surplus county. Ken
Burke congratulates Excecutive
Director of Court and
Operational Services Carol
Heath, on a job well done.
RIGHT: Ken Burke,
Chief Deputy Director
of Finance Claretha
Harris and Finance
Director Fred Dean.
The Clerk’s Office
received the Certificate
of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial
Reporting for the
Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report
(CAFR) for the 26th
consecutive year in
2007.
Even if you are on the right track,
you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
-Will Rogers
The Certificate
of Achievement is the
highest form of recognition in the area
of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Receiving it represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
Clearly, this is a major accomplishment for any
government agency, but to have received it for
26 consecutive years is a milestone, of which our
office is proud. The development of the CAFR
(for which we received the award) is a project
that everyone in the Finance Division contributes
to in some way. The continued success of this
project each year epitomizes good team work on
the part of the staff and leadership of our Office.
Our first effort at the Popular Annual Financial
Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year 2006 (pictured
above) earned the achievement award from the
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
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Finance - Accomplishments:
The Clerk of the Court serves as the Chief Financial Officer to the County, making the Clerk’s Finance
Division an integral part of the financial and administrative controls within all county operations. The Clerk’s
Office manages the cash, investments and fixed assets of the County.
• AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THE
25TH AND 26TH CONSECUTIVE YEARS BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (GFOA)
FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (CAFR).
• Implemented and expanded process for sending delinquent fines/costs to collection agency
• Collection Agency contract brought previously unreceived fines
• Created a Value Adjustment Board (VAB) log improving the documentation of the transfer of funds
between the branch offices, couriers and Board Records
• Managed County funds and investments
• RETURNED $800,000 TO THE STATE FROM THE COURT BUDGET IN 2006, SHIFTING FROM A DEFICIT
COUNTY IN 2005 TO BEING RECOGNIZED AS A SURPLUS COUNTY
• For the first time in 15 years, hired new auditors, Ernst & Young, LLC, certified public accountants
• Successfully completed the year end closing, annual audit and CAFR preparation process after
transitioning to the new auditors
• Presented Financial Division overview to Board of County Commissioners
• Collaborated with Board Departments to enhance grants management reporting and agenda automation
• Implemented ways to streamline year-end closing, audit and annual financial reporting process
• IMPLEMENTED NEW BOARD INVESTMENT POLICY TO MAXIMIZE YIELDS & DEVELOP ENHANCED
FORECASTING METHODS
• Enhanced all Finance Division Intranet pages to include areas of responsibility, financial policies
pertinent to our customer departments, forms, contact information, FAQ’s, and more
• DEVELOPED OUR FIRST POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (PAFR) FOR OUR CITIZENS
• EARNED PAFR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM GFOA
• Established the fraud, waste and abuse hotline and integrity unit in the Clerk’s Internal Audit Division
to further protect the County’s resources while enabling citizens to participate in monitoring the use of
County resources
• Assumed responsibility for maintaining all accounting records for tangible personal property from the
Board Purchasing Department
• Prepared the Clerk’s Annual Budget through collaboration with other Clerk’s divisions
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The Clerk’s Technology division works diligently to keep all departments up-to-date with
systems that help us provide efficient, uncomplicated customer service both online and in
person. More services are added to the Clerk’s website and made available in our offices to
provide the utmost convenience to our customers.
RIGHT: Tax
Collector Diane
Nelson and
Clerk Ken Burke
introduce the
new payment
kiosk.
-Traffic Imaging Project
-Online Traffic Ticket
payment
I know the price of success:
dedication, hard work and
an unremitting devotion to
the things you want to see
happen..
happen
-Frank Lloyd Wright
ABOVE: The Clerk introduced a completely redesigned, user-friendly website.
Official Records images are now available online and citizens may have up
to 100 free transactions per day through our public search online.
ABOVE: FACC (Florida Association of Court Clerks) comes to
the Criminal Justice Center to help the Clerk’s Office with the
Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS) Kick-off Event.
CCIS is a secured internet portal, which provides a search for
statewide court case information.
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Technology - Progress:
• IMPLEMENTED OUR TRAFFIC IMAGING SYSTEM TO CREATE PAPERLESS COURTS IN 2 TRAFFIC DIVISIONS,
ELIMINATING THE NEED TO PULL AND RE-FILE APPROXIMATELY 9000 COURT CASE FILES PER MONTH.
• Automated the transfer of traffic citation data from the Sheriff ’s Office’s vehicle ticket writer to the
Clerk’s Office system, then expanded the volume to include other law enforcement tickets processed by
the Sheriff.
• Automated tax deed process saving time and creating online access to information for citizens
• Attorneys of record now have access to Probate images
• E-MAIL ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ATTORNEYS TO HELP REDUCE LINES IN THE OFFICES AND
EXPEDITE RECORDS REQUESTS
• Contracted with a vendor to redact citizens’ private information from Official Records
• Maintained security and integrity of online records
• INITIATED MICROFILM PROJECT WHICH WILL, UPON COMPLETION, ELIMINATE THE USE OF FILE CABINETS TO
CREATE HIGHER CAPACITY SHELVING
• Continued working toward the implementation of the office-wide file management system, replacing 5
separate systems used by individual departments
• Converted existing Probate files to electronic format in lieu of microfiliming
• Continued phased implementation of the Oracle financial and payroll applications
• BEGAN COORDINATION OF E-FILING INITIATIVES BETWEEN PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE AND OTHER
AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AN E-FILING STATEWIDE PORTAL
• Developed and implemented an electronic document management system to be accessible through the
Intranet by employees
• Internal Audit Division converted to paperless audits
• Launched a system, which will automatically index
Official Records saving data entry time
• Placed payment kiosks for traffic and misdemeanor fines
in outlying locations and in Tax Collector’s Office
• Developed a method for vendors to check invoices
online to reduce the number of phone calls received and
increase employee efficiency
• Continued enhancing electronic scheduling for the Value
Adjustment Board (VAB)
ABOVE: The process of redaction, or removing citizens’
protected personal information from public records has been
enhanced by creating an online request form, which is accessible from the Clerk’s website.
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LEFT: The Charmonizers,
a local barbershop
quartet, volunteered
their talents to
enhance the romance
of the group marriage
ceremony.
ABOVE: 20 couples gathered in the courtyard of the Clearwater Courthouse on
Valentine’s Day to simultaneously exchange wedding vows.
LEFT: Always willing to
help our community
groups, Ken Burke joined
Tax Collector Diane
Nelson, Represenative Jim
Frishe, R-Belleair Bluffs,
and many others on
the runway as models for the Belleair
Women’s Republican
Club’s fashion show
and luncheon.
We see our customers as invited guests to a party,
and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to
make every important aspect of the customer service
aspect a little bit better.
- Jeffrey Bezos, Amazon.com
LEFT: Family Court
Judge Jack St. Arnold
(right) saved the day
and performed the
ceremony when Ken
Burke was snowed-in
in Washington D.C.
The Clerk’s Printing Services
division began offering fourcolor printing to our customers (County agencies) creating
some new revenue streams
while increasing others. The
new printing press will offer
cost-savings benefits to all
County departments.
LEFT: Ken Burke with Sheriff’s
Office’s Public Information
Specialist Eva Bishop and
Public Information Office
Coordinator Marianne Pasha.
LEFT: Maria Reilly, Pinellas
County Personnel and Clerk’s
Print Shop Manager Steve
Twardowski.
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Customer Satisfaction - Service Excellence:
By offering many services via the Clerk’s website, as well as by revamping the
way we manage our offices, we have been able to drastically reduce lines at our
service counters.
• One of our busiest, full-service branch offices, the St. Petersburg
Branch, now has an express window for customers
• CREATED NEW COMMENT CARDS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE BOTH IN OUR
OFFICES AND ONLINE, ENABLING CUSTOMERS TO SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK
AND REQUEST CONTACT BY US OR REMAIN ANONYMOUS
• The Clerk’s first Annual Report was created in a reader-friendly format
• The Jury Management section of the Clerk’s website was revamped,
Opening Call Centers in both our Criminal
making it easier for potential jurors to reschedule their reporting date,
(CJC) and Civil (Clearwater Courthouse) arupdate important information and contact our offices
eas, drastically reduced call-wait times, and
• WARNED CITIZENS ABOUT PROPERTY DEED AND JURY SERVICE SCAMS
created a specialized team of employees to
THROUGH PRESS RELEASES, WEBSITE AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
aid citizens in quickly reaching the right
• Ensured the safety of our citizens’ records by re-enforcing the Records
department to serve their needs.
Center to better withstand Category 3 hurricane winds
• WORKING WITH THE JUDICIARY AND THE COMMUNITY LAW PROGRAM,
BEGAN DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF CREATING A SELF HELP CENTER WITH 2 LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN SMALL CLAIMS, LANDLORD/TENANT, DIVORCE AND OTHER CIVIL CASES.
• Wrote, produced and published the Small Claims Videos, Part I & Part II
• INCORPORATED ST. PETERSBURG BRANCH CALL CENTER INTO CLEARWATER CALL CENTER FOR BETTER
CUSTOMER SERVICE
• Traffic and Probate images made available to the attorney-of-record online
• Provided identity security online through a combination of redaction technology and employee actions
• INTERNAL AUDIT DIVISION DEVELOPED A ROLE IN GUARDIANSHIPS TO INCREASE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE
CITIZENS UNABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES
• BEGAN ISSUING PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHS
• Began offering same day, cash juror pay
• Added wifi connections in jury assembly rooms
• Accomplished a major clean-up of case files, which entailed updating a number of volumes, updating the
file management codes and sending old case files to the warehouse (Records Center)
• Achieved 24-hour turnaround time of recordable documents
• HELD FIRST VALENTINE’S DAY GROUP WEDDING CEREMONY WITH MORE THAN 20 COUPLES EXCHANGING
VOWS SIMULTANEOUSLY
• Enabled citizens to purchase copies of their driver license records
• Began providing Notary Public services in all departments
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The Clerk’s Office provides a wide range of services and as a result has a
broad customer base with different needs. Our success in customer service
excellence stems, in part, from the flexibility of our employees to adapt to
changes, learn new technology, step in where needed and contribute to our
continual effort to streamline processes to increase productivity.
Senator Charlie Justice (Third from left)
Rep. James C. Frishe (Left)
Senator Dennis Jones (Right)
Senator Arthenia
Joyner (Right)
Rep. Frank Peterman, Jr. (Left)
Rep. Ed Hooper (Second from left)
Rep. Rick Kriseman
(Second from left)
Rep. Mike Fasano
(Second from right)
Rep. Peter Nehr (Right)
Rep. Janet C. Long (Left)
PICTURES ABOVE: A representative group from the Clerk’s Office went to the legislative session in Tallahassee. They had the opportunity to meet
with both members of the Senate and the House of Representatives from Pinellas County to discuss Clerk related legislation. They were recognized
on the House floor by our Representatives.
RIGHT: Ken Burke;
Gay Inskeep, Court
Administrator; and
the Sixth Judicial
Circuit’s Chief Judge
Robert J. Morris Jr.,
plan the opening
of the Clearwater
location of the legal
Self Help Center.
ABOVE: Recognizing future leaders, Ken Burke and
Chief Deputy Director Myriam Irizarry reach out to
our community’s children with lively, thought-provoking lessons about the role of the Clerk’s Office.
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Customer Satisfaction - Looking Forward:
Looking forward, the Clerk’s Office will continue to nurture relationships with municipal, county and
federal government agencies, as well as with civic organizations, attorney bar associations, title companies,
the Florida Association of Court Clerks (FACC) (see pictures below) and others that foster a working
environment that supports our mission of customer service excellence.
We are committed to grow with the needs of our customers, increase access to services and advance
our technology to provide maximum efficiency and ease of use both in our offices and on our website.
Some of our future initiatives include:
[ Work with other agencies to create a statewide E-filing standard
[ Begin accepting E-filing once statewide standard is adopted and implemented
[ Imaging records and files in our Misdemeanor, Civil and Juvenile departments to further the
advancement toward paperless offices and courtrooms
[ Offer citation/fine payment locations outside our offices in the public/retail sector, such as checkcashing businesses
[ Perform Valentine’s Day group wedding ceremony annually
[ Offer wedding photos for a fee
[ New informative “how-to” videos
[ Create a Self Help Center to enable citizens who are representing themselves in court (pro se litigants)
to have affordable access to legal assistance
[ Enhance online services by adding:
C An accounts payable, vendor payment section (invoice payment statements account balance)
C A live help chat option
C Permit applications
C Access to software that will assist pro se litigants in filling out small claims, divorce and landlord/
tenant action forms
ABOVE 2 PICTURES: The Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers (FACC) provides a forum to share ideas and plan for the future.
Pictured above are most of the FACC members at a function in Orlando, Florida.
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office has six
service locations and 2 operations (non-public) locations to
better serve our citizens. All of the Clerk’s Office locations’ addresses and phone numbers are listed on the next page. Three
locations are conveniently found within Court buildings. Our
main Administrative Office, our Civil Court, Probate and Board
Records departments, Recording Services and Mail Center are
located in the Clearwater Courthouse (picture 1). Our Criminal
Court related departments and Clerk’s Accounting are located
at the Criminal Justice Center, also in Clearwater (picture 2).
One of our three branch offices, the St. Petersburg Branch, is
located at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building (picture 3). The
North County Branch (picture 4) and the Clerk’s Tyrone Branch
(picture 5) offer a multitude of services to the citizens in those
areas of our county, while the Records Center (picture 6) is
conveniently located across the street from the Criminal Justice
Center. Our Finance and Internal Audit divisions (picture 7)
are located just a few blocks away from the main Clearwater
Courthouse, and our Print Shop (picture 8) is just around the
corner from the Criminal Justice Center and Records Center.
LOCATIONS & PHONE NUMBERS
Office Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. ~ Monday through Friday
with the exception of the Holidays listed below.*
CLEARWATER COURTHOUSE
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Board Records, 5th Floor
727-464-3424
Circuit/County Civil Court Records - Room 170
727-464-3267
Official Records - Room 163
727-464-4876
Probate Court Records - Room 106
727-464-3321
Recording Services - Room 150
727-464-4876
Marriage Licenses, Passports
Tax Deeds
727-464-2635
Executive Offices, 4th Floor
727-464-3341
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER
14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762
Circuit Criminal Court Records
727-464-6793
Felony Court Records, Juvenile Court Records
County Criminal Court Records
727-464-7000
Misdemeanor & Traffic Records, Municipal and
County Ordinances, Boating and Fishing Violations
Criminal Court Customer Services
727-464-7000
Jury Management
727-464-6423
Clerk’s Accounting
727-453-7665
NORTH COUNTY BRANCH OFFICE
29582 U.S. 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33761
727-464-8700
CLERK’S TYRONE BRANCH OFFICE
1800 66th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
727-582-7681
ST. PETERSBURG BRANCH OFFICE
545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-582-7771
AMSOUTH BUILDING
400 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Finance Division, 4th Floor
727-464-8300
Internal Audit Division, 5th Floor
727-464-8371
RECORDS MANAGEMENT SERVICES
14155 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33760
727-464-6171
CLERK’S BCC RECORDS MANAGEMENT
509 East Avenue South, Clearwater, FL 33756
727-464-5555
SELF HELP CENTERS (pro se litigants)
Clearwater - 324 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue, 33756
727-464-5150
St. Petersburg - 545 First Avenue North, 33701
727-582-7941
THE CLERK’S OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS:
NEW YEAR’S DAY **
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’S BIRTHDAY (3rd Monday of January)
PRESIDENTS’ DAY (3rd Monday of February)
MEMORIAL DAY (Last Monday in May)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 4th)
LABOR DAY (1st Monday of September)
VETERANS’ DAY (November 11th)
THANKSGIVING DAY & DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS DAY**
** NOTE: When Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on: a Tuesday, the prior Monday is observed as a holiday; or a Thursday, the following Friday
is observed as a holiday. When Christmas, New Year’s Day, July 4 or November 11 fall on Saturday, the prior Friday is observed as a holiday. When
Christmas, New Years Day, July 4 or November 11 fall on Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a holiday.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about your County Clerk of the
Circuit Court’s Office.
We believe public service is an honor. We are committed to providing
exceptional service. This commitment spans across all our customer bases
from our direct public contact via the counters and phones of our offices to
our watchdog role of ensuring that your tax dollars are spent properly and
wisely.
It is imperative to all our employees that we serve the public with respect,
sensitivity and courtesy -- willingly, promptly and competently. To support
this belief, we ensure that every employee is treated with dignity and
appreciation for their individual contribution to our mission of “Customer
Service Excellence.”
Both as employees and as citizens of the community, we believe that we share
the responsibility to contribute toward the community’s vitality.
These values and beliefs structure the Clerk’s Office and guide our futher
development toward constantly achieving higher standards in customer service
excellence.
Sincerely,
Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court
and the employees of the Clerk’s Office
Pinellas County, Florida
Written and designed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Administrative Office.
Published and printed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Print Shop.