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 July 17, 2020
SHARE YOUR INPUT ON THE FY2021 BUDGET
The City of Largo invites you to discuss the FY 2021 Proposed Annual Budget. Your input is important to help us ensure that the budget aligns with your priorities for the community and advancing the City's vision to be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay. Sign up at Largo.com/BudgetInput to participate in one of several community budget planning and engagement virtual sessions throughout the month of July.
NEWS AND UPDATES
UPCOMING CITY COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 21
In order to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors, the City of Largo has decided to host this month's City Commission meeting on Zoom. ( Register online ) Public comment can be submitted electronically prior to the meeting by sending an email to publiccomment@largo.com . If you have any questions, please contact cityclerk@largo.com or call 727-587-6710 ext. 7003. To see all upcoming virtual meetings, visit Largo.com/CityMeeting . 
WATCH ON ZOOM
WATCH ON ONLINE

WATCH ON LARGOTV
  • Spectrum Cable ch. 639
  • W.O.W. Cable ch. 15
  • Frontier Cable ch. 45
DRIVE-THRU HURRICANE PREP EXPO
SATURDAY, JULY 25 • 9-11AM • LARGO CITY HALL
Largo Fire Rescue is hosting a Drive-Thru Hurricane Expo on Saturday, July 25 from 9-11am at Largo City Hall. While supplies last, community members can drive-through City Hall along the marked path guided by City team members to receive the 2020 Hurricane Guide, Hurricane Kit Items, and other important information on City services.
HOW TO WASH YOUR FACE COVERINGS
Keeping your mask clean is just as important as wearing it! Check out these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to properly wash and dry your cloth masks. Learn more about the importance of face coverings at ReNEWLargo.com . Have questions about face coverings in Pinellas County? View FAQs here .
LARGO SUSTAINABILITY SERIES
SATURDAY, JULY 25 • 10:30AM • CITY OF LARGO FACEBOOK
Join us for the next (virtual) Sustainability Series event on Saturday, June 25 at 10:30am for a presentation on healthy waterways and how you can help keep our future Largo beautiful. Join presenter Chris Benigni, Stormwater Program Administrator for the City of Largo as he discusses how stormwater pollution can lead to toxic algae blooms and other conditions that cause public health and environmental issues. Come learn about your local watershed, your individual connection to it, and how we can all make changes that improve our direct impact on our beautiful waterways.
POLL WORKERS NEEDED
Due to a shortage in poll workers, the City of Largo is encouraging patrons to volunteer as election workers to help conduct fair and accurate elections. Election workers serve as the foundation of our representative democracy. If you are interested in making a difference in your community and country, please consider becoming an election worker.
COVID-19 RECOVERY TEAM'S RESTORE AND RENEW REPORT
Following the guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), the Governor's Executive Orders, OSHA Workplace Standards, and Pinellas County Orders, the COVID-19 Recovery Team, as well as City of Largo staff and leadership, have created the Restore and Renew Report. This report provides detailed information regarding the processes that the City of Largo followed to date in response to COVID-19, as well as plans for moving forward. This living report will be updated as needed and additional versions will be provided as they become available. Visit ReNEWLargo.com for the latest information and resources for the community and businesses.
Largo Recreation centers will be closed for a deep facility cleaning following the end of summer camp. See closure dates below.
  • Highland Recreation: Tuesday, August 11
  • Southwest Recreation: Wednesday, August 12
  • Largo Community Center: Friday, August 14
The City of Largo hosts a before and after school program at our Highland and Southwest Recreation for grades K-8. If you would like to be contacted when registration is available for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, please fill out this form . A Team member will contact you when registration is open.
PROPOSED SEWER RATE INCREASE
The FY2021 proposed budget includes a proposed wastewater (sewer) rate increase, which is the first rate increase since 2007. The increase is primarily needed to pay debt service costs (principal and interest) on recent borrowings totaling over $130 million, the proceeds of which were used to construct major capital improvements, including: the Wet Weather project (prevention of sewage overflows and efficiency improvements), Disinfection System project (enhanced disinfection treatment) and the Middle-plant project (replacement of all Wastewater Clarification Systems). To learn more and ways to share input on this increase, visit Largo.com .
ROSERY ROAD CLOSURE: CLEARWATER-LARGO ROAD TO MISSOURI
Rosery Road from Clearwater-Largo Road to Missouri Avenue is closed until Monday, August 24. The City’s Contractor, Nelson Construction, is performing roadway reconstruction. Access to all properties can be made through adjacent roadways or entrances. Should you have any questions, please contact Brian Highnote in the Engineering Services Department.

Brian Highnote
Construction Manager, Engineering Services Dept. | 727-587-6713 x4402 | bhighnot@largo.com
PINELLAS CARES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Pinellas CARES Financial Assistance has broadened eligibility for individuals and families who need help with overdue rent, mortgage or utility bills. Anyone who has lost a job or significant income due to COVID-19 can now apply for a maximum of $5,000 in assistance per household during the period starting March 1, 2020. To qualify, applicants now only need to sign an attestation form affirming their loss of income was directly related to COVID-19 and provide documentation of their residency in the county and United States.
KENT PLACE RE-PAVING COMPLETION
Chief Engineering Inspector Kollar is pleased to announce that the scheduled limited paving in several locations along Kent Place is complete . Prior to repaving, City staff were able to provide a new sanitary sewer lateral connection to lower the out of pocket costs to a Kent Place property owner.

Rafal Cieslak
Assistant Director Engineering Services Dept. | 727-587-6713 | rcieslak@largo.com
CRA RESIDENTIAL LOT FOR SALE
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) placed advertisements in the Largo Leader and the Tampa Bay Times noticing the public that the CRA is seeking proposals for the purchase and construction of a new single-family home located in Downtown Largo. For more on the notice and the minimum requirements visit Largo.com/redevelopment .

Teresa Brydon
Economic Development Manager | 727-586-7360 | tbrydon@largo.com
UPDATE ON BUSINESS CONTINUITY PROGRAM
Since the start of the Business Continuity Program on May 1, there have been 90 grants approved to Largo businesses. There have been 16 businesses in the West Bay Drive District and 74 throughout the rest of the City. The program will remain available to businesses as long as they have submitted their application by September 30, 2020.

Teresa Brydon
Economic Development Manager | 727-586-7360 | tbrydon@largo.com
MAYOR'S WATER CHALLENGE
Mayor Woody Brown is joining other mayors across the country in asking residents to make a commitment to conserve water and protect this vital resource by taking part in the 9th Annual Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation starting August 1-31.

To participate, enter online at mywaterpledge.com, and then make a series of online pledges to conserve water on behalf of the City of Largo. One winning city will be determined from five population categories. The city with the most pledges in each population category will win. Residents from the winning cities who take the online pledge will also be entered to win hundreds of environmentally friendly prizes, including $5,000 for home utilities, water-saving fixtures and home improvement gift cards.
GRANTS AT A GLANCE

Team Largo recently applied for and is intending to apply for the following funding opportunities in order to fund important projects, including helping the community stay healthy during COVID-19.

Applied for a Grant and Awaiting a Decision from the Funder:
  • Recreation, Parks and Arts | Senior Citizens Services, Inc. | Additional Grant Cycle due to COVID-19 | Health and Hygiene Care Packages for Vulnerable Largo Seniors | $5,000
  • Police | Lfyt’s Response to COVID-19 | $3,000
  • Police | Automobile Association of America (AAA) Traffic Safety Grant | $3,772

Intending to Apply:
  • Police | U.S. Department of Justice | Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) | $24,549

Withdrawal of Grant Funds Tentatively Awarded in 2018:
  • Engineering | State of Florida’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program | $1,157,947 | Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) determined the lift station flood mitigation project was not cost effective given the project cost

Cheryl Coller Reed
Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator | 727-586-7452 | creed@largo.com
FRDAP GRANT
The Recreation, Parks and Arts Department is pleased to report that they have received a $200,000 grant for the Bayhead project through the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program (FRDAP). This is the tenth grant received from this funding source bringing the total received to over $1.2 million. Other projects that have received FRDAP funding include: Datsko Park ($200,000); Highland Family Aquatic Center ($200,000 and $50,000), Nature Preserve ($200,000), Highland Complex ($50,000), Southwest Tennis Center ($50,000), and Northeast Park ($200,000 and $200,000).

Joan Byrne
Recreation, Parks & Arts Director | 727-587-6720 | jbyrne@largo.com
AAR COMPOSITES PLAN APPROVED
On July 9, the City of Largo issued a small-scale site plan approval memo to allow for the addition of concrete sidewalks and pads for the purpose of supporting nitrogen and freezing tanks ancillary to the site’s primary use at 14201 Myerlake Circle.

Rick Perez
Planning Manager | 727-587-6749 | rperez@largo.com
UPCOMING TREE TRIMMING NOTIFICATION
Crews will continue maintenance tree work along electric lines located within Largo municipal boundaries during July through September. The shaded areas listed on this map show the approximate locations where trimming activity will occur, with tree crews cleaning up all debris. As a reminder, debris resulting from storm damage or other events unrelated to our maintenance activities is the responsibility of the homeowners. Part of the pruning activity may occur on lateral lines, some of which will require climbing in rear lot areas. To learn more about Duke's tree care practices, visit Duke-energy.com/trees.

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED
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From Captain Play! coloring sheets to online fitness videos, Largo Recreation is here with ways to stay active and healthy while at home.
Access library eResources on your device, all free with your library card. eResource digital media includes: eBooks, eAudiobooks, downloadable and streaming music, TV shows, comics, movies, and eMagazines.
audio books ebranch database
The City of Largo would like to celebrate and recognize the best work in each of our employees. But we need your help! Have you noticed a Team Largo member providing superior services that inspire community pride and demonstrate City values Please fill out this form and that employee's supervisor will let them know you were WOW'ed by their performance!
TAKE THE 2020 CENSUS
The 2020 Census determines political representation, election boundaries, and billions of dollars in funding for state and local programs. Help #Make Largo Count and complete the Census today at my2020census.gov - then tell a friend or neighbor too! Visit Largo.com/Census2020 to learn more or request a virtual presentation.

MISSION: Provide Superior Services that Inspire Community Pride

VISION: To Be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay

VALUES: INTEGRITY | COLLABORATION | PASSION | CREATIVITY