GOVERNANCE [GOV]
The County must be transparent in the way it conducts business, plans the infrastructure, and coordinates with its public and private partners. The Governance chapter establishes policies that address the legal status of the comprehensive plan; the process for decision-making, intergovernmental coordination, and various implementation tools for the Plan. It also incorporates goals, objectives and policies for how the County addresses capital improvements and provides needed public facilities in a sustainable manner.
Everyday Actions
Learn more about how the County operates through participation in the Pinellas Citizen University. This six-week program offers a behind-the-scenes experience to learn more about how the County’s different departments serve the community. To learn more about enrollment in this program visit http://www.pinellascounty.org/CitizenU/default.htm.
Be part of the process. Attend public meetings and hearings to share your thoughts. Agendas for the many committees and boards can be found on the County’s website, by visiting: http://www.pinellascounty.org/agendas.htm.
Goals, Objectives, Policies & Strategies
MAINTAIN AN INNOVATIVE AND PROACTIVE PROGRAM OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND INTERAGENCY COORDINATION, COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES, TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE SIGNIFICANT NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
Coordinate planning activities with local governments and governmental agencies.
Coordinate with Forward Pinellas to maintain consistency with the Countywide Plan.
Participate in the countywide planning process through representation on the Forward Pinellas Board as prescribed by Chapter 2012-245 F.S. by:
- Maintaining procedures to determine requisite amendments to the Countywide Future Land Use Plan; and
- Taking the lead role for the development of coordinated population projections.
Coordinate with municipalities and adjoining counties in the update and amendment of local comprehensive plans.
Coordinate with Forward Pinellas to maintain consistency with the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
Collaborate with Forward Pinellas, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) to review updates and amendments to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
Coordinate with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) to maintain consistency with the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Tampa Bay.
Implement an agreement associated with the CCMP for Tampa Bay and the respective and applicable Pinellas County action plan components, consistent with provisions of the agreement.
Collaborate with TBEP to review updates and amendments to the CCMP.
Coordinate with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) to maintain consistency with the Tampa Bay Regional Strategic Plan.
Maintain membership and participation in the TBRPC.
Collaborate with the TBRPC to review updates and amendments to the Strategic Regional Policy Plan (SRPP).
Coordinate with federal, state and regional regulatory agencies to maintain compliance with established programs and policies.
Cooperate with municipalities to establish and implement Joint Municipal Planning Areas as authorized by Section 163.3171 F.S.
Joint Municipal Planning Areas will be established by interlocal agreement with the participating municipality or municipalities.
The boundaries of Joint Municipal Planning Areas will be established in consideration of:
- Previously established planning area boundaries;
- Municipal and county infrastructure service areas;
- Existing and planned jurisdiction lines;
- Local comprehensive plans;
- The location of unincorporated communities; and
- The interests of unincorporated residents, property owners and businesses.
Once established by interlocal agreement, the following provisions will apply to the unincorporated area located within the Joint Municipal Planning Area:
- An amendment to the applicable municipal comprehensive plan is required to include unincorporated areas within the municipal plan; and
- The Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code will remain in effect for annexed lands until the terms of the interlocal agreement have been met.
Coordinate the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan with local governments, federal, state and regional agencies and other agencies and organizations.
Coordinate with local governments and agencies with responsibilities related to land use and supporting infrastructure.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies to establish procedures for the review of land development proposals, capital improvements and public services including:
- The sharing of development–related information;
- The assessment of development-related impacts;
- The siting of public facilities; and
- The siting of locally unwanted land uses.
Utilize interlocal and interagency service agreements to facilitate and manage the provision of needed infrastructure and services in an adequate, equitable and efficient manner.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies to provide water, wastewater collection and treatment, and reclaimed water service.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies to protect and manage environmental lands and lands that serve the recreational needs of the County and region.
Maintain membership and service agreements with Tampa Bay Water.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies to manage solid waste.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies to manage surface water through the Watershed Management Program.
Coordinate with independent special districts and provide planning and technical assistance. Ensure that “special district public facility reports” are submitted to the County.
Collaborate with local governments and agencies in planning for disasters.
Coordinate with agencies and organizations responsible for the planning and management of transportation facilities.
Maintain membership in and support activities of Forward Pinellas.
Coordinate with the FDOT through the activities of Forward Pinellas.
Support the activities of TBARTA and PSTA.
By interlocal agreement administer and enforce airport protection zoning regulations.
Coordinate with agencies and organizations responsible for the conservation and management of environmental and natural resources to require a sound scientific base for the development of water policy and in setting a national standard for water resource management and conservation.
Establish procedures to ensure consistency with the policies, programs and regulations of DEP.
Coordinate with SWFWMD to:
- Support their scientific research;
- Share information regarding regional water resources;
- Maintain and implement the Regional Water Supply Plan and protect the region’s water resource; and
- Manage stormwater and surface water quality.
Support the activities of the agency on bay management.
Use the regulatory authority of the Pinellas County Water and Navigation and Control Authority.
Coordinate with agencies and organizations responsible for education services and educational facilities.
Participate in the Pinellas Schools Collaborative; pursue a partnership with the School Board of Pinellas County (SBPC); and implement the Public Schools Interlocal Agreement in partnership with the SBPC and local governments.
Maintain policies that address public school facilities within this comprehensive plan.
Establish a dispute resolution process.
Emphasize informal and efficient coordination processes to resolve disputes.
Utilize the formal dispute resolution process of TBRPC when necessary and appropriate.
PINELLAS COUNTY SHALL UNDERTAKE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE, NEEDED PUBLIC FACILITIES IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS INVESTMENTS, MAXIMIZES THE USE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THAT BALANCES ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS.
Capital improvements shall be provided to correct existing deficiencies; replace worn-out or obsolete infrastructure prior to failure and maximizing useful life; implement operational efficiencies and to accommodate desired future growth, as indicated in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) described in the annual budget.
The capital improvement goals, objectives and policies shall be reviewed annually for any applicable changes.
A CIP plan shall be prepared by County Administration and affected departments and updated on an annual basis. The following CIP portfolio project criteria shall be utilized for evaluating and ranking projects prior to their inclusion in the CIP plan:
- Asset preservation – the extent to which the project protects or preserves the County’s infrastructure.
- Criticality of the project (consequences of not doing the project).
- Economic outcome – the extent to which the project enhances economic development in the County.
- Environmental stewardship – the extent to which the project implements green technologies or practices or otherwise serves to protect and improve the County’s natural resources.
- Community Sustainability and Resiliency – the extent to which the project will foster a community that is prepared for and adaptable to sea level rise and changing climates.
- Service delivery – the extent to which the project sustains or improves level of service.
- Project coordination – the degree to which the project is linked to other existing or proposed projects managed by the County or an external partner.
- Public demand – the extent to which the project aligns with citizen expectations.
- Regulatory requirements – the extent to which the project helps the County meet current or future regulatory requirements.
- Public health, safety, and welfare – the extent to which the project addresses an expert-defined health or safety condition.
Public expenditures that subsidize development in the Coastal Storm Area shall be limited to those improvements that are consistent with applicable goals, objectives and policies in this comprehensive plan.
County-funded infrastructure shall be prohibited within the Coastal Storm Area except for the following:
- The expenditure is for the maintenance, repair or replacement of existing infrastructure; or
- The expenditure is for restoration or enhancement of natural resources or public access; or
- The expenditure is needed to address an existing deficiency identified in the Comprehensive Plan; or
- The expenditure is for the retrofitting of stormwater management infrastructure for water quality enhancement of stormwater runoff; or
- The expenditure is for the development or improvement of transportation infrastructure consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; or
- Infrastructure intended to increase resiliency and minimize risk in the Coastal Storm Area; or
- The expenditure is for public facilities of overriding public interest as determined by the Board of County Commissioners.
Future development shall bear a proportionate cost of infrastructure improvements necessitated by development to maintain adopted level of service standards.
Pinellas County shall continue to implement its multimodal impact fee ordinance to finance transportation management strategies necessitated by (re)development.
Pinellas County’s potable water and sewer user fee revenues shall be allocated primarily for capital improvements related to expansion of potable water and sewer infrastructure.
Pinellas County shall continue to provide the option of using development agreements to provide public facilities to accommodate new development.
Pinellas County will manage its fiscal resources to ensure the provision of needed capital improvements for previously issued development orders, future (re)development in a manner that maintains adopted level of service standards.
Pinellas County shall manage its debt by only programming funds for infrastructure and programs that do not exceed the County’s fiscal capacity.
Pinellas County shall confine long-term borrowing to capital improvements that cannot be financed from current revenues on a “pay-as-you-go” basis.
Pinellas County will ensure that any bonds issued will be structured to be paid back within a period not to exceed the expected useful life of the capital project.
Efforts shall be made to secure grants or private funds whenever available to finance the provision of capital improvements.
Pinellas County shall continue to investigate funding sources and strategies to finance transportation needs consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, such as additional optional fuel taxes, and a transportation system surtax.
Pinellas County shall continue to collect a tourist development tax and shall use as outlined in the tourist development plan to implement needed improvements consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
Fiscal policies of the Board of County Commissioners to direct expenditures for capital improvements shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
Pinellas County shall include capital improvement projects for the renewal and replacement of public facilities to maintain adopted level of service standards in the CIP.
The County shall continue to investigate other funding sources and strategies for the operation and maintenance of built and proposed capital improvements.
The County shall determine the best financial strategy(ies) to support and protect public access to water-dependent land uses.
The County shall establish explicit funding strategies and commitments to address the need for affordable or community housing.
The County shall acquire, assemble, and “bank” lands for current and future economic development needs.
Decisions regarding the issuance of development orders and permits shall be based upon coordination of the development requirements included in this Comprehensive Plan, the Land Development Code, and the availability of necessary public facilities needed to support such development at the time needed.
Pinellas County shall use the following level of service standards in reviewing the impacts of (re)development upon public facility provisions:
- Stormwater – all applicable federal, state, and local regulations relating to flood control, stormwater treatment and wetland protection, shall continue to be met in public and private project design. Preference shall be given to stormwater management options that provide regional benefit, restore and enhance natural systems and floodplains, improve major conveyance systems or apply low impact development principles.
- Recreation – 14 acres of County park and environmental lands for every 1,000 residents within the County.
- Solid waste and resource recovery – disposal of 1.30 tons per person per year.
- Water supply – Pinellas County shall use 115 gallons per capita per day when preparing its annual 5-year and 20-year potable water demand projections for the Pinellas County Water Demand Planning Area.
- To determine whether adequate capacity is available for a (re)development project in the unincorporated county that is served by a municipal potable water system, Pinellas County will utilize the level of service standards adopted by the municipal service provider.
- Sanitary sewer – Pinellas County utilities shall provide the levels of service necessary for proper wastewater treatment, reuse and disposal to ensure the protection of its citizens and the environment and to provide adequate wastewater treatment capacity for all current and projected wastewater facility demands of Pinellas County utility customers.
- Wastewater flows associated with existing and permitted development cannot exceed the wastewater treatment plant’s permitted design capacity.
- Treated effluent and biosolids shall meet all pertinent federal, state and local standards and regulations for treatment, reuse and disposal.
- Pinellas County will, for concurrency management purposes, annually compare wastewater flows to permitted treatment capacity to determine the percentage of available capacity and assess whether permitted treatment capacity exceeds the needs of existing and committed development. If available, and the treatment capacity meets this standard, development can be permitted.
- Unpredictable situations where permitted capacity is temporarily exceeded due to unanticipated situations such as limited/extreme weather conditions shall not impact the determination of level of service conditions.
- Peak design flow capacity shall be between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average daily flow for each sanitary sewer system, based on the individual characteristics of the system.
- If an annual assessment evidences that a capacity deficit could occur within 10 years, Pinellas County utilities will prepare a more detailed capacity analysis and determine whether facility expansion is required or if the service area is built out.
- To determine whether adequate capacity is available for a (re)development project in the unincorporated county that is served by a municipal wastewater system, Pinellas County will utilize the level of service standards adopted by the municipal service provider.
Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and requests for (re)development shall be evaluated with consideration for their:
- Contribution to a condition of a public hazard as described in the Comprehensive Plan.
- Aggravation of any existing condition of public facility deficiencies, as described in the Comprehensive Plan.
- Generation of public facility demands that may exceed capacity increases planned in the capital improvement program described in the annual budget.
- Conformity to land uses as shown on the Future Land Use Map.
- Accommodation of public demands based upon adopted level of service standards and attempts to meet specified measurable objectives when public facilities are provided by developers.
- Demonstration of financial feasibility when public facilities will be provided, in part or whole, by Pinellas County.
- Effect on state agencies and SWFWMD’s facility plans.
Pinellas County shall ensure that public facilities and services for which a level of service standard has been adopted and that is needed to support development will be available concurrent with the impacts of development. [16-19]
PINELLAS COUNTY SHALL UNDERTAKE ACTIONS TO EQUITABLY IMPROVE THE COUNTY’S HEALTH.
Utilize best practices and health planning tools to advance the health of Pinellas County.
The County shall incorporate health considerations into decision-making.
Establish policies in the Comprehensive Plan and other County policy documents that guide decision-making to support healthy opportunities and communities.
Establish criteria for County projects to determine when Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) or other health planning tools should be used.
The County shall seek input from public health professionals when developing policies for the Comprehensive Plan.
The County should coordinate with local, state and regional partners to address health through cross-sector collaboration and public education.
The County shall participate in community collaborations focused on improving health and equity outcomes, such as the Pinellas County Health in All Policies (HiAP) collaborative.
Make educational materials on health (e.g., social determinants of health, healthy choices, etc.) available to the public.
The County should participate in the community health assessment and health improvement planning process of the local health department and hospitals.
Improve data sharing and collaboration internally and with external partners, including but not limited to schools and academic institutions, social service agencies, transportation and planning entities, health departments, and healthcare providers.
Promote accountability for community health and equity outcomes.
The County should utilize metrics to help determine the effectiveness of established policies, programs, and projects.