Top News from Snell Isle

Utility Bill Rate Changes

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Category: Snell Isle Weekly News

Published: Saturday, 03 August 2019 13:27

I encourage you to become familiar with potential rate changes to your St Pete Utility Bill. These changes have the potential to change the base amount you pay in your monthly invoice. Prior to St Pete considering making this change, all residential properties were considered “equal”and billed the same base amount. If the new rate tiering is approved, it will be based on the square footage of impervious surface area (surfaces that water runs off), so that a property’s fee more accurately reflects its impact to our stormwater system.

I hope you will click on the link below and, if you have questions, please call the number shown below. The City is making available these telephone resources to answer any and all questions you may have.

ST PETERSBURG UTILITY RATE CHANGES IN THE WORKS

St. Petersburg City Council will consider increases to water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater and sanitation utility rates and charges. Meetings will be held at the Sunshine Center at 330 5th St. N.

First Reading is Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 3 p.m.

Public Hearing Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 6 p.m. The proposed rate adjustments will be published at the First Reading and made available at stpete.org/rates. If approved, any changes would take effect October 1, 2019.

City Council will be considering Stormwater tiered rate changes for adoption on October 1, 2019. Find more information and view your property’s impervious surface area measurement in the Stormwater Review and Appeals Portal at stpete.org/ratechanges

Questions? Call 727-893-7280.

Please take advantage of these opportunities to review and understand the impact on your utility bill prior to any changes.

Pelican Rescue

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Category: Snell Isle Weekly News

Published: Tuesday, 23 July 2019 11:15

July 18th we rescued a pelican from Snell Harbor off of Cordova Blvd. The bird was in poor condition: entangled in fishing line, compound wing fracture, and bones were exposed. Our SPCA colleague made us aware that in all likelihood the bird would be euthanized as they could not heal this severe injury. If you catch a bird, do not cut your line and turn it loose, you doom the animal if you do this. FWC recommended procedure to take care of a hooked pelican (or other bird):

Put on glasses/sunglasses to protect your eyes. Reel the bird in slowly to reduce the risk of added injury. Or use a net to carefully lift the bird from the water. Fold the bird’s wings against its body and hold the beak firmly. Allow the beak to be open slightly to allow it to breathe. Cover its head and eyes with a towel or shirt to calm it. Clip the barb and back the hook out. If the bird is severely injured, has swallowed a hook, or you are unable to deal with the problem, call a bird rescuer, such as Helping Hands Animal Rescue: 727.365.4592.

When fishing, avoid casting into projecting mangrove branches, there is high probability the line will become entangled and pose a trap to birds. If you see line in mangroves and other structures please remove it. The Brown Pelican is the Iconic symbol of Saint Petersburg, let’s all do our part to be good stewards and care of birds that need help.

Thank you Walt Jaap, Coffeepot Bayou Watershed Alliance

St. Petersburg Residential Composting Program

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Category: Snell Isle Alerts

Published: Tuesday, 16 July 2019 18:08

The City of St. Petersburg has launched its first residential composting program. Residents in single-family homes who are interested in composting are invited to sign up for the free and voluntary program and minimize their environmental impact by turning kitchen and yard waste into usable, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Participants in the composting program will receive a composting bin from the City to use in their backyard. There will be no collection service, but the resident will be responsible for feeding and maintaining the bin and will reap the benefits of the nutrient-rich compost by spreading it on their lawn or garden.

More information and the composting bin request form can be found at www.stpete.org/composting

Please Protect the Manatees

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Category: Snell Isle Alerts

Published: Tuesday, 26 February 2019 11:19

Message from Snell Isle President

I would ask everyone to please be mindful of our need to protect these gentle giants, our manatee population. They have no means to protect themselves so it’s all up to us. Many manatees enjoy Coffee Pot Bayou since it’s a NO WAKE ZONE and most who enjoy this waterway observe those rules. The FFWC say to maintain 50 yards and do not approach.

Sunset Cove, the “inlet” inside Coffee Pot Bayou is a protected area and nursing calves, with their mother, live in this area. In May, Mama Manatee reacquaints with her 4-5 suitors but prior to that time, Sunset Cove is their home. Earlier today, this area had 7 kayakers, 2 paddle boarders and 2 small power boats very close to the big tail flipping of all of the above manatee activity. They are very inquisitive and will stop their intended behavior to see what is approaching.

Many new residents and visitors to our area of course mean no harm but getting too close does just that. It scares the manatee and changes their natural behavior. The waters in our State of Florida, the environment they love, lost many, many manatees to boat incidents and red tide this past year and we need to do all we can to help protect them. Many of us who live on the water post signs to PROTECT the MANATEE and STAY AWAY. Please share the message. Thanks for your help!

Bonnie Hargrett Your Snell Isle President