This Week in Largo
MARCH 15, 2019
Welcome to LARGO TODAY , News from the City Manager. Stay up-to-date on the superior services offered to our residents, businesses and visitors in the "Community of Choice in Tampa Bay.".
Would you like to meet new friends and gain meaningful work experience? The City of Largo is currently recruiting to fill Summer positions including Lifeguard, Camp Counselor, Party Attendant, Custodian, Facility Attendant and Snack Bar Attendant. Visit Largo.com/Jobs for the complete list of positions and to apply today!
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT
Long time Public Works Director Brian Usher retired on February 15th. After two national searches conducted by an executive recruiter, City Manager Henry Schubert is pleased to announce that a new Public Works Director has been hired. Matthew York, currently the Public Works Director for the City of Wood Dale, Illinois, has accepted the position and will begin his career with the City of Largo on April 24th. Mr. York has 19 years of municipal experience, including 16 years in the public works field. He has a BA degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois University. Mr. York will be responsible for continuing the legacy of excellence in the Public Works Department and serving as a member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Schubert made his hiring decision based on input from executive recruiter GovHR, which included extensive background checks, and three interview teams comprised of department directors, PW Department managers, and PW employees including the leadership of the CWA bargaining unit.

- Henry Schubert
City Manager I 586-7454 I citymanager@largo.com
LARGO SEEKS APPROPRIATIONS FROM STATE LEGISLATURE
At their January 8th meeting, the City Commission prioritized these three projects and requested staff seek a discretionary appropriation from the State Legislature in order to provide partial funding for:

  • Bayhead Recreation Complex and Action Park Reconstruction – Request of $300,000; co-sponsored by Representative Latvala and Senator Brandes;
  • Central Park Performing Arts Center Facility Upgrades – Request of $120,000; co-sponsored by Representative Diamond and Senator Brandes; and
  • Sanitary Sewer Overflow Prevention Program – Request of $300,000; co-sponsored by Representative Diamond and Senator Brandes

This week, Vice Mayor Carroll was in Tallahassee, on behalf of the Suncoast League of Cities, and he had an opportunity to personally thank Senator Brandes (District 24) and Representatives Latvala (District 67) and Diamond (District 68) for sponsoring these projects. Mayor Brown is also sending letters to each legislator.

Discretionary appropriation spending is an optional part of the State budget and is highly competitive. This is in contrast to programs for which State funding is mandatory such as education, criminal justice and juvenile justice.

This year, the Legislature received 709 appropriations requests from local governments, public entities and non-profit organizations totaling over $3.6 Billion in requested funding.

- Cheryl Coller Reed
Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 586-7452 I creed@largo.com
COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS BECOME RECYCLING ADVOCATES
Largo’s Community Ambassadors are teaming up to help educate fellow residents about the do's and don'ts of recycling. The Ambassadors will be stopping by the Starkey Road Recycling Center (1551 Starkey Rd) from time to time in order to help visitors learn more about what can and can’t be recycled and how the entire recycling process works. Educational materials and giveaways will be handed out to residents who drop off their materials at the center to encourage proper recycling.

Community Ambassador Leslie Caplin said, “It’s so exciting to see residents doing the right thing by recycling!” Caplin also says she is looking forward to the opportunity to help residents participate in the recycling program. To learn more about the Community Ambassadors Program or how else you can support the City contact Largo.com/Connect .

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Coordinator I 586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com
BIKE YOUR CITY
On March 8th, Mayor Woody Brown joined Forward Pinellas, City staff and residents from across the community for the Bike Your City event which celebrates Florida Bike Month and Bike to Work Day. Participants rode from Largo Central Park to the Southwest Recreation Complex led by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies. Largo is proud to support the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists and promotes the use of alternative transportation through the Multimodal Plan  and the Comprehensive Plan: Forwarding our Future 2040 . View Largo's bike and walking paths by visiting the Largo Sustainability Map .

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Coordinator I 586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com
CHEMICAL COLLECTION EVENT
The City of Largo and Pinellas County hosted a Mobile Chemical & Electronic Collection Event on March 9th. Over 850 residents attended the event, helping to safely dispose of thousands of pounds of items such as computers, ink, fertilizers, paints and oils. This free event helps to preserve the quality of our environment by making sure these items don't end up in our air or waterways. Visit OurFutureLargo.com for more information about upcoming events, or Largo.com/GetRidofIt to learn how to safely dispose of anything.

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Coordinator I 586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com
DICK NORRIS CAR WASH DEVELOPMENT ORDER
On March 12th, a development order was issued to allow the construction of a 4,550 sq. ft. drive-thru car wash, twenty (20) vacuum parking spaces, landscape buffers, signage and associated infrastructure improvements located at the southwest corner of Belleair Road and US Highway 19 N.

- Carol Stricklin
Community Development Department Director I 586-7490 I cstrickl@largo.com
PROJECT UPDATES
TROTTER ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE
City contractor Dave Nelson Construction is 100% complete with the installation of new utilities along Trotter Road, and approximately 97% complete with the paving of Trotter Road, north of Dryer Avenue. Paving between 14th Ave SW and Dryer Avenue is expected to be complete in early April. Sidewalks are installed from 8th Avenue SW to 14th Avenue SW and will be completed to Dryer Avenue in two weeks. Sod installation in this area will occur in April. 

The project is currently on schedule for completion in July 2019. Road closures and detours are scheduled for the end of March to the intersection of Dryer and Trotter. Trotter Road is closed to the general public for the entire duration of construction.

City of Largo garbage and recycling pick-up is Tuesdays and Fridays, 6:30-6:45am. Area residents are asked to place their recycling bins curbside the night before, or prior to 6:30am day of pick-up.

Every effort is made to minimize impacts to the traveling public and property owners during construction, however, short-term interruptions to property access and utilities may occur. Notifications of these interruptions will be made available whenever possible. For questions, please contact Engineering Services at 727-587-6713 or David Nelson Construction at 727-784-7624.

- Jerald Woloszynski
Engineering Services Department Director I 587-6713 I jwoloszy@largo.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
"LARGO LIVE" CENTRAL PARK MUSIC SERIES STARTS IN APRIL
Stay local and join us for live music, food vendors, beer and wine starting in April with the Largo Live Music Series in Largo Central Park. This free event will feature a different, local headliner who will rock the stage from 7pm until 10pm every third Friday in April through June. 

APRIL 19: BETTY FOX BAND
Enjoy the soulful sounds of the Betty Fox Band on April 19th. Named Best of the Bay's "Best Local Blues Band," Betty Fox has a subtle stage presence reminiscent of Natash Bedingfield with a combination of blues, soul and funk.

MAY 17: SOUL CIRCUS COWBOYS
Soul Circus Cowboys will rock the stage on May 17th. Reaching Billboard's Top 50 Country chart with their record "Taligate Country," the band brings a polished yet gutsier, grittier kind of country rock to today's music scene.

JUNE 21: CHRIS MCCARTY
June 21st brings artist, Chris McCarty, to the stage. The charismatic performer writes several of his songs and has been noted to take his audience on a pop-rock musical journey.
- Kara Piehl
Special Events Coordinator I 587-6740 I kpiehl@largo.com
JOIN OUR TEAM
Are you interested in helping to build the community of choice? There are great opportunities from college interns to engineers and you can find them all by visiting Largo.com/jobs . Largo provides outstanding benefits including a modern employee wellness program. Working for Largo allows you to serve the community by providing superior services that inspire community pride. The City of Largo is a great place to work, naturally!