In advance of the start of the 2020 State Legislative Session, Largo staff recently met with Representative Ben Diamond to discuss proposed legislation to be considered during the upcoming session and to learn more about the State appropriations process.

Since Representative Diamond was awarded the Florida League of Cities’ Defender of Home Rule Award for 2019, Commissioner Michael Smith, City Manager Schubert and Assistant City Manager Paluch took this opportunity to congratulate Representative Diamond on his award.

Representative Diamond represents District 68 which encompasses a portion of St. Petersburg as well as Feather Sound in unincorporated Pinellas County. The residents and businesses in the Feather Sound community are customers of Largo’s wastewater utility system.

- Cheryl Coller Reed

Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 727-586-7452 | creed@largo.com

Senator Jeff Brandes will host mobile office hours at City Hall on September 23 ^rd from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to Senator Brandes’ office in St. Petersburg a more convenient way to meet their Senator and receive any assistance that may be needed prior to the start of the 2020 State Legislative Session.

Senator Brandes maintains a year-round office in Suite 200 of the St. Lucie Building located at 9800 4 ^th Street North.

Senator Brandes represents District 24 which includes Largo, High Point, the Greater Ridgecrest Area, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, and Lealman as well as the beach communities from Tierra Verde to Belleair Beach. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 2012 and was subsequently re-elected in November 2018. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2012.

The State’s 2020 legislative session starts on January 14 ^th and runs through March 13 ^rd.

- Cheryl Coller Reed

Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 727-586-7452 | creed@largo.com

The City of Largo would like to recognize any employee who has served in the military at the Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11 ^th, with a special presentation of an eagle. If you have not received an eagle, please fill out the form today and join us as we honor our Veterans with a sunset ceremony in Largo Central Park. Please call Kara Piehl at 727-587-6740 ext 5014 for the form and more details.

- Kara Piehl

Special Events CoordinatorI 727-587-6740 | kpiehl@largo.com

On August 28, 2019, a small scale approval memo (SPR219-019) was issued to allow a change of use from general office to retail, landscape improvements, and outdoor seating for a new tea shop and botanical retail store. The 0.29 acre property, located at 1941 West Bay Drive, is designated Commercial General (CG) on the City of Largo Future Land Use Map.

- Rick Perez

Planning Manager I 727-587-6749 | rperez@largo.com

The savings for the Kill-A-Watt Challenged turned up as staff turned off the lights, with a monthly savings of nearly $3500! That brings total financial savings for the challenge to $6750 and helps keep the City's carbon emissions down, creating a more sustainable future for our community. The big winners for the month of August are Tim Adams, Environmental Specialist from Environmental Services, for signing the Energy Pledge and the Golf Course for lowering their energy use over 30 percent from last year! Congratulations to both of them for their amazing efforts, and don't forget to sign the Energy Pledge for the final monthly drawing.

- Laura Thomas

Sustainability Coordinator I 727-586-7424 | lthomas@largo.com

Keeping our organization ocean-friendly can help to keep our community and waterways safe and clean. Avoiding single-use plastics such as grocery bags, plates, cups or utensils is easy to do with so many great vendors and products available. You can see a list of these vendors at Largo.com/EPP, which highlights our Environmental Purchasing Policy and provides locations of alternative, ocean-friendly products, typically paper. Don't forget to mention that Largo is ocean-friendly when placing catering orders as well, many vendors already have alternative products and for those that don't we can provide the items ourselves. For questions about being ocean-friendly please contact Sustainability@Largo.com

- Laura Thomas

Sustainability Coordinator I 727-586-7424 | lthomas@largo.com

Pinellas County and the City of Largo encourage residents to bring unwanted electronics and chemicals for free disposal such as household batteries, paint, and other harmful chemicals on Saturday, September 21 at Largo High School, 410 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL 33770 from 9am-2pm.