St. Petersburg is making overtures that sound like an annexation bid.
By JON WILSON
Published November 16, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - The mayor ducked the scary "A" word.
In a letter earlier this month to Feather Sound residents, Mayor Rick Baker made it clear St. Petersburg is interested in the upscale subdivision north of the city.
But only once in the two-page, roughly 800-word missive did Baker write the word "annexation."
Instead, the mayor used comfort words such as "alliance," "affiliation" and "share a common future."
"Annexation," after all, is a word that tends to put folks on edge.
The idea of municipalities swallowing unincorporated territory has angered county government officials, upset some of the estimated 285,000 residents who live outside cities and resulted in bitter referendum campaigns.
Most recently, five unincorporated areas overwhelmingly rejected annexation by Seminole.
"I have deliberately chosen a slow, cautious approach because it is important for everyone to understand that we are not aggressively seeking annexation of Feather Sound into St. Petersburg," Baker wrote.
Jack Hebert, chairman of Feather Sound's Community Services District, a taxing district, isn't so sure.
"That's not what I've been told. That's not what I've heard bantered around City Hall," Hebert said.
Baker wrote his letter after several calls and community contacts suggested an interest on the part of some Feather Sound residents, said Kevin Dunn, a city development administrator.
Since then, about 30 phone calls or e-mail messages have expressed "overwhelming support of the initiation of at least some dialogue," Dunn said.
After winning state approval to annex 700 Gateway Preserve acres near Howard Frankland Bridge a year ago, St. Petersburg officials said it was a step toward annexing next-door Feather Sound, its numerous businesses and about 5,000 residents in expensive homes.
The city has annexed several areas during the past few years, including sections of Gandy Boulevard where developers are building new subdivisions.
The Gateway annexation process isn't necessary as a stepping stone to Feather Sound, Dunn said. He said the Carillon business area across Ulmerton Road provides the contiguity required for annexation.
Annexation increases the city's property values and tax base, but also would require the city to provide services residents would otherwise receive from a variety of sources.
A majority of Feather Sound residents would have to vote "yes" before an annexation could take place.
"It really needs to be what Feather Sound's wishes and desires are. If it makes sense for us all to move ahead collectively, we will. If the consensus is that we should preserve the status quo, that's okay, too," Dunn said.
Hebert said in the past year he hasn't sensed a wave of interest in annexation on the part of his Feather Sound neighbors.
"There's an ongoing concern about the maintenance of roads. That's an issue on the radar screen somewhere, but not to the extent of the airport," said Hebert, referring to the proposed expansion of St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, which would directly affect Feather Sound.
In his letter, Baker alluded to "entry roads which are presently in disrepair." He also suggested that the city could provide a strong voice in quality-of-life issues such as the airport and a plan to create an industrial park on Airco Golf Course next to Feather Sound.
Baker also pointed out that St. Petersburg's property tax is 7.09 mills ($1 per each $1,000 of taxable property value), compared to the 7.53 mills Feather Sound residents pay.
The Feather Sound Community Services District website (www.feathersound.org) concedes that is true, but says that other costs such as utility taxes would make residents' pay more than the property tax difference.
Feather Sound services district levies 1 mill. It has paid for such amenities as street lights, recreation facilities and upkeep of the community's common areas.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office provides police protection. Largo provides water and sewer service comes through Largo. Garbage pick-up is independently contracted; Pinellas Park Fire Station No. 36 provides first-response fire service.
"We enjoy the tax district because we enjoy some autonomy out here," Hebert said. "There's been some discussion we should expand that authority and address the road problems (but) there's no great unrest here."
St. Petersburg is planning a series of focus groups with Feather Sound residents to discuss the annexation question, Dunn said.
The issue is likely to come up at Monday's regular meeting of the service district's board. It's scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Tides at Feather Sound, Suite 700 conference room, 1901 Ulmerton Road.
