Photo courtesy of the City of St. Pete Beach
The St. Pete Beach City Commission unanimously approved a $3.7 million law enforcement contract, $73,500 in parking license plate readers and a $100,410 security-system replacement on Aug. 19.
Commissioners also set a Sept. 16 groundbreaking for Fire Station 22 and received updates on public transportation and other City projects.
Sheriff’s Contract Tops $3.7 Million
The Commission approved a $3,707,724 agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The contract represents a roughly 5.7% increase. Assistant City Manager Adam Poyer said the City receives about a 30% discount from the full cost because residents already help fund Sheriff’s Office operations through county taxes.
The City of St. Pete Beach previously cut its community policing deputies from three to two and reduced funding for additional law enforcement services from about $250,000 to $150,000.
Poyer said the City has spent less of the additional funding than expected this year, so he anticipates the City will receive some money back.
Parking License Plate Readers Approved
Commissioners also approved a previously budgeted $73,500 payment to Conure Telecom Services for license plate recognition equipment that the City will use for parking enforcement.
Poyer said the system differs from Flock Safety, the license plate reader technology used by law enforcement agencies. The City of St. Pete Beach will mount its readers on parking enforcement vehicles.
“Once the license plates are inputted into our program, via resident tag, or one of our pay stations, or online app, then this system would basically scan the license plates as they drive through the parking areas,” Poyer said.
When the system detects a potential parking violation, it will alert parking enforcement officers. Poyer said the equipment does not search for other information about vehicles or their owners.
[Read more below]
That’s not all that happened at the Aug. 19 St. Pete Beach Commission meeting. Read about beach access lawsuit, Merry Pier, and short-term rentals.
New Security System
The Commission approved a $100,410.60 contract with Empire Consulting Inc. to replace the City’s aging security and access-control system.
Technology Director Candyce Galloway said the manufacturer discontinued the existing system, leaving the City without regular support or security updates and creating potential security vulnerabilities.
The replacement will also bring Fire Station 23 and Public Services onto the City’s access-control system. Both locations currently use separate security measures.
The three-year contract includes the system replacement and implementation. Galloway said the City expects the new system to save about $7,000 annually after implementation.
Fire Station 22 Groundbreaking Set
St. Pete Beach will break ground on the new Fire Station 22 at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 at 1950 Pass-a-Grille Way, the site of the former station.
District 1 Commissioner Karen Marriott also told residents that PSTA is considering eliminating Route 90, which runs from the county park area to 34th Street in south St. Petersburg.
Marriott, who represents St. Pete Beach on the PSTA board, said the agency will hold a public hearing on the proposed elimination at its next board meeting.
The next St. Pete Beach City Commission meeting in Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.
Keep Your Community Local: Donate Now To Support Us
Donate now to support The Gabber Newspaper. The owners of the paper take no income from the paper. Every penny donated helps keep your community news hyperlocal. And everyone who earns their living working at The Gabber Newspaper lives in Gulfport and St. Petersburg. Most of our freelancers live here, too. We support our community; please support us.
The Gabber Newspaper? Yeah, We Go There.
Did you know: In 1968, our founder, George Brann, started The Gabber Newspaper, then called the Gulfport Gabber, to hold Gulfport City Council accountable. Read more of our city council coverage, and learn about our policies on reporting, fact-checking, and funding.
Get all your Gulfport and Tampa Bay beaches news and things to do at thegabber.com.
