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THIS WEEK IN LARGO FEBRUARY 14, 2020
NEWS & UPDATES
LARGO'S ELECTED OFFICIALS GO TO TALLAHASSEE
More than 250 municipal officials were in Tallahassee this week for the Florida League of Cities’ annual Legislative Action Days. Elected municipal officials met with legislators and testified in committees on legislation being proposed during the 2020 State Legislative Session. Some of the proposed legislation being considered has the potential to affect cities' and counties’ abilities to solve local issues at the local level on behalf of their citizens.

Mayor Woody Brown and Commissioners John Carroll and Jamie Robinson represented Largo’s and the Suncoast League of Cities’ legislative priorities during one-on-one meetings with Representatives Susan Valdes (District 62), Chris Latvala (District 67), Ben Diamond (District 68) and Jennifer Webb (District 69) as well as Senators Ed Hooper (District 16) and Jeff Brandes (District 24).

- Cheryl Coller Reed
Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 727-586-7452 I creed@largo.com
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AT LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS
The Youth Leadership Council also participated in the Legislative Action Days. Nine members of the Largo Youth Leadership Council joined almost 70 other high school students from Youth Councils around the state for the two day event in Tallahassee.

The students departed Tuesday morning at 3 am for the five hour drive to Tallahassee and returned late Wednesday evening. While in Tallahassee, the students participated in the World Cafe, a powerful method for encouraging group dialogue on public policy that engenders ways to work together effectively. The students also took tours of the Florida Historic Capitol and the Florida Supreme Court, and learned about municipal services provided by the City of Tallahassee during a visit to Tallahassee City Hall.

While there, Representative Chris Latvala (District 67) took time out of his busy schedule during week 5 of the 2020 Legislative Session to meet with the students to discuss the state legislative process.

A special thanks to Representative Latvala, the Largo City Commission, the chaperones (City Commissioner Jamie Robinson, Merissa Carlisle (Library) and Kara Piehl (Recreation Parks and Arts)) and to Gloria Gonzalez (Office of the Mayor and Commission) for their respective efforts to ensure an action-packed, positive and safe learning experience for the students.

- Cheryl Coller Reed
Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator I 727-586-7452 I creed@largo.com
LARGO CHOSEN BY GOOGLE FOR NEW TOOL
The City of Largo is one of the first 100 cities worldwide to be featured on a new online tool from Google. The Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE) tool uses Google data sources and modeling to map greenhouse gas emissions and rooftop solar potential. In an effort to build a more sustainable and resilient community, the City will be using this tool to gauge and improve future sustainability efforts. A link to access the tool and additional info can be found on Largo.com/news.

- Laura Thomas
Sustainability Administrator I 727-586-7424 I lthomas@largo.com
PRESIDENTS' DAY CLOSURE NOTICE
The City of Largo would like to remind you that all City facilities will be closed on Monday, February 17 in honor of Presidents' Day. Residential trash and recycling will not be collected on February 17.

SANITARY SEWER SMOKE TESTING
As an ongoing effort to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows in the City of Largo, the Engineering Services Department’s contractor will be conducting smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system in two areas of the City from February 18 to February 20, 2020. The first smoke testing area includes the following streets:
  • 2998 - 3094 Hillsdale Avenue
  • 3017 - 3397 19th Place SW
  • Karen Avenue between Gladys Street and Mary Sue Street
  • Lauren Drive (northernmost segment)

The second smoke testing area falls within the following general Seacrest Drive area:
  • North of Eastbay Drive
  • South of Shore Drive NE
  • East of Keene Road
  • West of Valencia Way

Notification letters explaining the smoke testing process have been mailed to each resident in these two areas.

- Jerald Woloszynski
Director, Engineering Services I 727-587-6713 I jwoloszy@largo.com
COUNTYWIDE HOUSING STRATEGY
As part of the development of a Countywide Housing Strategy, the Tactical Team composed of agency representatives met on February 10 at the Lealman Exchange. Principal Planner Alicia Parinello and Housing Grants Specialist Arrow Woodard were in attendance representing the City of Largo on the Tactical Team, along with Community Development Director Carol Stricklin. The purpose of the Tactical Team is to draft a Countywide Housing Compact and to plan an Affordable Housing Summit in May. The Countywide Housing Compact would set goals for affordable housing and commit local government to work towards those goals. City staff plan to present this information to the City Commission at a Work Session in May.

- Carol Stricklin
Community Development Director I 727-586-7490 I cstrickl@largo.com
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
The application process for the Charter Review Committee began on Wednesday, January 22, after City Commission approval of Resolution No. 2252, which established the committee. As of this writing, 25 applications have been received, with two having been disqualified. The application period will close on Friday, February 14 and the appointments will be made at the February 18 Regular City Commission Meeting. Copies of the applications will be provided with the agenda memo for this meeting.

Applicants so far are:

Loretta Statsick
Richard Cain
Daniel Ruffner
Julie Daniels
Paul Dunwell
Erick Eifert
John Fennessy
Beverly Gatewood
Valerie Hibbard
Mary Kearins
William Mackintosh
Bret Shortridge
Lauren Smalls
Neil McMullen
Melissa Honeycutt
Patricia Cox
Nickie McNichols
Rowland Johnson
Ernest Bach
Jessie Scott Jr.
Maria Kadau
Alicia Ponds
Kathleen Robshaw

- Diane Bruner
City Clerk I 727-587-6710 I dbruner@largo.com
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