This Week in Largo
OCTOBER 12, 2018
The City of Largo welcomes you to LARGO TODAY , News from the City Manager. Stay up-to-date on the superior services Largo aims to offer our residents, businesses and homeowners each week.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Florida’s General Election on November 6th will provide registered voters an opportunity to vote on candidates for federal and state offices and ballot initiatives, including 12 proposed Constitutional Amendments to the Florida Constitution.
One of the proposed Amendments, Amendment #1, has the potential to fiscally impact city and county governments. To assist voters in becoming informed about Amendment #1, City of Largo leadership and staff have:

  • Conducted Amendment 1 presentations to various communities including civic groups, neighborhood associations, business community groups and this year's Citizens' Academy class
  • Presented to the City Commission at the October 9th Work Session simultaneously broadcast on the City’s public access television channel to viewers at home
  • Ensured that informational materials were available for patrons of the Largo Public Library and online at Nextdoor.com, Facebook and Largo.com
  • Shared flyers at outreach events and discussed the Amendment with community members

Additionally, Mayor Brown wrote an editorial, entitled Amendment 1’s Impact on Homeowners, that was featured in the Largo Leader in September. If your group would be open to having us out for a presentation, please let us know.


- Brenda Clark
Community Outreach Coordinator I 586-7630 I bclark@largo.com
LARGO POLICE DEPLOYMENT TO ASSIST IN HURRICANE RELIEF
Six members of the Largo Police Department will depart to a staging area in north Florida at the request of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This team will receive their operational assignment upon arrival. The team will be equipped to perform all essential duties for five days. 

At that time, a new six member team will arrive to relieve and re-equip these team members. Members of the Largo Police Department are currently scheduled to provide assistance in the above prescribed manner until no longer needed.

The initial deployment will include the agency's mobile command vehicle. The team departed on Thursday afternoon.

- Mike Loux
Deputy Police Chief I 586-7388 I mloux@largo.com
FREECYCLE NEWS!
Largo's Freecycle Event, which was recently awarded the Florida League of Cities Environmental Stewardship Award, is featured in the September/October issue of Quality Cities Magazine. This event encourages reuse in the community and promotes environmental equity through the creation of a marketplace where residents can 'shop' for free. The marketplace is made up of donations from other community members and is hosted at the Largo Public Library. This year , donations will be accepted on November 2nd from 10am-6pm. Residents may shop the event on November 3 starting at 9am until no items are left. Visit LargoRecycles.com for more information on this award-winning event.
- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Coordinator I 586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com
LANDSCAPE WORK AT LARGO CENTRAL PARK
The entrance to Largo Central Park at the corner of Seminole Blvd and East Bay Dr will undergo some changes in the coming weeks. Please be patient as crews remove old landscaping and install new. Questions about the project should be directed to the Parks Division at (727)586-7415.

- Phil Christman
Parks Superintendent I 586-7415 I pchristm@largo.com
MEETING UPDATES
2018 CITIZENS' ACADEMY
This week's session was hosted by the Environmental Services Department. Participants toured the plant grounds by bus and walked to one of the tanks and to the biosolids factory. They also heard presentations on reclaimed water and lift stations and had the opportunity to climb into the tv inspection and vac trucks. Then it was on to the lab to see how sampling and testing are done and learn about the City's Industrial Pretreatment Program. Lab staff also showed them the way wastewater looked coming into the plant and the way the effluent looks when it leaves the plant. The class got to hear from Director Kety about recent and upcoming improvement projects during dinner back at the administration building. Prizes were handed out for the top photos sent in from the previous week's session at Public Works and, as always, each participant received a bag of Lar-Gro to take home. Environmental Services staff did a great job showing off their facility and engaging with the class members. Next week's session will be hosted by the Recreation, Parks and Arts Department at the Central Park Performing Arts Center.

- Diane Bruner
City Clerk I 587-6701 I dbruner@largo.com
WEST BAY DRIVE TRAIL HEAD
Over the past few weeks Community Development staff have presented the West Bay Drive Trail Head Improvements Project to Foward Pinellas’ Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Technical Coordinating Committee as well as the Pinellas Trail Security Task Force. The project was well received by all of the organizations we presented to and they are looking forward to the new and improved trail.

- Teresa Brydon
Economic Development Manager I 586-7342 I tbrydon@largo.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
LARGO FIRE RESCUE OPEN HOUSE
Largo Fire Rescue is welcoming back their Annual Open House with some exciting new changes on Saturday, October 13 from 1-4pm at Fire station 41. The event is free and we encourage all families to come out and enjoy the fun.This year three local BBQ restaurants are stepping up to compete to win Citizen’s Choice Best BBQ of Largo. Donations at the event will benefit the Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida. Fire Station 41 is located at 180 4 th St. SW Largo 33770. Parking will be available in the Pinellas County School Administration Board parking lot located across the street from the fire station. For more information, please call Largo Fire Rescue at 727-587-6737.

- Summer Mahr
Largo Fire Rescue Public Educator I 587-6737 I smahr@largo.com
PINELLAS COUNTY LICENSING DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE
The Pinellas County Contractor Licensing Department is hosting an Open House from 9 to 11 am on October 18th, to introduce the public to its new location at the Young-Rainey Science, Technology and Research (STAR) Center in Largo. Dignitaries, building officials, municipal officials, media and interested citizens are invited to stop by and tour the new offices, meet the department’s friendly staff, learn about department services, hear consumer protection tips and enjoy light refreshments. No formal program is planned. Following a change in state law, the Contractor Licensing Department was created this summer to assume the operations function of the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB) The PCCLB regulates the county’s construction and home improvement industry through uniform contractor licensing, code adoption and code interpretation. In early September, the department and board moved to County-owned space in the STAR Center at 7887 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 133. In one of its most critical functions, the Contractor Licensing Department teams with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Consumer Protection Department to fight unlicensed contracting. Staff members work with local contractors, builders and residents to ensure that construction activity is safe and compliant with consumer protection measures.

- Robert Hatton
Building Official I 586-7488 I rhatton@largo.com
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
DATE: Saturday, October 27
TIME: 12-5pm, Trick-or-treat trail 12-4pm
LOCATION:  Largo Central Park
COST: See pricing below

Plan on a ghoulishly good time at this year's Halloween Spooktacular event. This widely popular, family-friendly event includes fun and games for kids 12 and under. Enjoy the trick-or-treat trail (12-4pm only), inflatables, a hay maze, games, music, activities and much more. Bounce houses, a petting zoo and strolling entertainment are just a few of the activities that make this a great event for the whole family. Wristbands are needed for most activities.
 
Dogs are not permitted in the park during large events. Please no face paint while on inflatables. For questions or more information, contact Special Events at 727-587-6740 Ext. 5014 or  SpecialEvents@largo.com .

Parking

  • Limited on-site parking will be available for $10
  • $5 park and walk from Largo High School
  • Free park and walk from Everest University and Largo Middle School

Trick-or-Treat Trail

  • Stop at sponsored business locations with treats for you to enjoy throughout the park
  • No official starting location - Enter at any spot and rotate counter clockwise from your first stop 
  • Visit as many stops as you prefer from 12-4pm
  • Please bring your own bag/bucket
  • For children 12 and under ONLY (children must be present for candy)

Ticketing Information

  • Wristbands are available for $7 in advance starting October 1 and are available at Highland, Southwest, Largo Community Center and Central Park Performing Arts Center
  • $10 Day of purchase at any Largo Rec facility and Largo Central Park (cash only)
  • Wristbands include access to over 30 inflatables, petting zoo and hay maze
  • Wristbands do not include access to trampoline activities ($5), pony rides ($5) and zip line ($5) or any three activities for $10 and require tickets to be purchased the day of event
  • Free to all with or without a wristband: Spooky Train Ride, Trick-or-Treat trail, strolling and stage entertainment

Trick-or-Treat Stops

Interested in sponsoring a trick-or-treat stop? Please fill out an application . Thank you to our sponsors!

- Joan Byrne
Recreation, Parks and Arts Department Director I 587-6720 I jbyrne@largo.com
3RD ANNUAL LARGO TASTE FEST
The Highland Family Aquatic Center will be host to the 3 rd Annual Largo Taste Fest on November 3rd from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Individuals can reserve tickets now by going on line to www.PlayLargo.com/TasteFest.

The reservation fee is $25 per ticket in advance or $30 per ticket on day of event. Each ticket includes admission, food sampling and one complimentary beverage. The Largo Taste Fest is a community fundraiser with sponsorship, tickets and silent auction sales supporting children’s summer camp scholarships. Beer and wine sales support the Rotary Club of Largo Foundation and 50/50 support the Largo Kiwanis Club. There will also be live music, a silent auction and artwork from Largo High School students for viewing.

- Mark Abdo
Recreation Program Supervisor I 587-6740 I mabdo@largo.com