Pinellas commissioners approve budget amendments, Vision Zero study and interlocal wastewater, NPDES agreements

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve two budget amendments, accept a multi-year Vision Zero grant for study and demonstration projects, and adopt multiple interlocal agreements, including a transmission and treatment agreement with the city of Pinellas Park.

Budget amendments: Staff presented item 4, a carryforward amendment covering operating and capital items budgeted in 2025 but not yet spent, and item 5, a realignment recognizing unanticipated revenues and grants across departments. The board approved both items by unanimous vote.

Vision Zero grant: Commissioners discussed whether accepting a Vision Zero grant would commit the county to permanent capital changes such as fencing or shoulder closures. Kelly Hammer Levy, the county’s public works director, explained the grant is intended primarily for study and small-scale demonstration projects — examples cited included bollards, RRFBs (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons), flashing crosswalks and IVA technology to detect pedestrian activity — and said larger capital actions would return to the board for approval. "This is really intended to be more study and more analysis than it is to be execution," Kelly said.

Interlocal agreements and other votes: The board approved an extension of the 2020 NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) interlocal agreement through Dec. 31, 2030, and approved a housekeeping resolution dedicating a sidewalk parcel in St. Petersburg as right-of-way. The board also approved an interlocal agreement to accept wastewater from the city of Pinellas Park; staff said the county’s utilities fund expects roughly $12.5 million in revenue in the first year of that agreement.

Votes at a glance: All motions in this portion of the agenda passed by unanimous voice or roll call votes.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with grant activities and grant-funded studies; any major capital projects that arise from the Vision Zero study would be brought back to the board for separate approval.