Welcome to LARGO TODAY , News from the City Manager. Stay up-to-date on the superior services the City of Largo offers to our residents, businesses and visitors to build the "Community of Choice in Tampa Bay."
THIS WEEK IN LARGO SEPT. 20, 2019

PLAYLARGO.COM TAKES HOME FIRST GOLD AWARD
PlayLargo.com took home the gold from the 2019 dotCOMM Awards in the Government Website category. This marks the first award for the new PlayLargo.com and the tenth overall for Largo.com and PlayLargo.com since the site's launch in April 2018. dotCOMM Awards is an international competition honoring excellence in web creativity and digital communication. The competition is unique, in that it reflects the role of creatives in the dynamic web which is transforming how we market and communicate products and services.

The Recreation staff celebrated recently with their own thumbs up gold awards and some breakfast treats. Thanks for all of the hard work you've put in to make our website gold, Largo Recreation team!

- Katie Bishop
Communications & Engagement Specialist I 727-587-6740| kbishop@largo.com
SENATOR BRANDES TO HOST MOBILE OFFICE HOURS
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
LARGO LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS CAMPAIGN
The City of Largo is announcing the launch of its Sustainable Business Guide, where business resources can be found to help guide toward a more sustainable triple bottom line. Businesses, small and large, with sustainability efforts are proven to be more successful, because they demonstrate a focus on economic, environmental and social systems. These pillars of sustainable business are also known as people, planet and profit. Sustainable businesses stand out and outperform their peers. As partners in building our community, the City of Largo is dedicated to helping businesses to reach their goals. 

Sustainability is one of three primary focus areas of the City of Largo’s Strategic Plan, which serves as the blueprint for City operations and helps move us towards our vision of being the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay. For a sustainability checklist, tips for people, planet, and profit, and a downloadable version of the guide, visit OurFutureLargo.com.

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability CoordinatorI 727-586-7424| lthomas@largo.com
EMPLOYEES OF THE QUARTER
Five amazing City of Largo team members were recognized as Employees and Manager of the Quarter at the September 17th Largo City Commission Meeting. Here are a few highlights from their nominations:

Economic Development Coordinator, Karisa Rojas-Norton, was nominated because she has "defined what a business ombudsman's role is throughout Tampa Bay."

Facilities Maintenance Supervisor, Bryan Rivera, was nominated for his "smile and can-do attitude" and because he is "always available to assist and even tries when he is not the person in charge of the tasks."

Environmental Services Treatment Plant Shift Supervisor, David Winkler, was nominated for going above and beyond, and for his outstanding work in leadership after the retirement of the Plant Manager.

Largo Police Officer, Albin Soto, is the Largo Police Department's mental health liaison. Numerous emails and letters have been received regarding his impact on clients and family members. He and his partner have also been awarded the Community Hero's Award from the Tampa Bay Bold Goal Health Collaborative.

Recreation, Parks and Arts Assistant Director, Krista Pincince, has made significant contributions to both her department and the City as a whole. She helps lead training for supervisors as well as managers, leads the City's employee family shelter during emergencies and has served on various project teams.

Congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service to the Largo Community!


-Susan Sinz
Human Resources Director I 727-587-6716| ssinz@largo.com
DADDY DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT
On Saturday, September 14th, the Largo Community Center hosted Daddy Daughter Date Night. 157 daughters and dads attended the magical forest of Alice’s Wonderland. Delicious food, dancing and photos were some of the highlights to this enchanted evening. The Queen of Hearts, Alice and the White Rabbit strolled around for photos.


- Christina Lorenz
Recreation Program Manager I 727-518-3133 | clorenz@largo.com
RECREATION, PARKS AND ARTS DEPARTMENT WINS AWARD
Each year, the Florida Recreation and Park Association recognizes one agency for its innovative programming. This award recognizes the importance of creative, trend setting ideas as the cornerstone of community pride and participation. The award honors demonstrated leadership in successfully developing and executing programs or events that reflect ground breaking ideas. The 2019 Innovative Programming Award was won by Largo Recreation, Parks and Arts Department for its program “North Pole Express”. This was the fifth time the department has been honored with this award, more than any other agency in the state of Florida.

- Joan Byrne
Recreation, Parks & Arts Director I 727-587-6720 | jbryne@largo.com
RECREATION, PARKS AND ARTS DIRECTOR HONORED
Recreation, Parks and Arts Director Joan Byrne was honored at the recent Florida Recreation and Park Association State Conference in Orlando with its prestigious 2019 Achievement Award. This award is given to one professional, nominated by peers, who has given distinguished and sustained service to the profession and to the community. The award has been presented annually since 1942 and recognizes professional achievement in multiple categories.

- Krista Pincince
Recreation, Parks & Arts Assistant Director I 727-587-6720 | @largo.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHEMICAL & ELECTRONIC COLLECTION
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.


JOIN OUR TEAM
Are you interested in helping to build the community of choice? There are great opportunities from interns to engineers. The City of Largo provides outstanding benefits and a modern wellness program. Join us as we serve the community by providing superior services that inspire community pride. The City of Largo is a great place to work, naturally!
MISSION: Provide Superior Services that Inspire Community Pride

VISION: To Be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay

VALUES: INTEGRITY | COLLABORATION | PASSION | CREATIVITY