Public Policy & Business Development Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 7:45 am

Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference Room

600 Cleveland Street #200, Clearwater, FL 33755

Meeting Objectives:

  • Clearwater Ferry Presentation. The following items were addressed in the presentation:
  • Route Map
  • There are 4 routes to and from Downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach
  • Ridership
  • Clearwater Ferry started in 2015 and each year since then the number of ridership has gone up
  • Seasonality & High Volume
  • The high volume is during Spring Break, Sugar Sand Festival, Summer, and Holiday Break
  • They have made changes to adopt to the high volume of people riding the ferry
  • Route Updates
  • In May, the Clearwater Ferry will incorporate a Blue Line that will provide services to Dunedin on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11am-9pm
  • 2018 Schedule & Calendar of Events
  • This document was included with the agenda
  • The upcoming March Legislative Breakfast is tentatively scheduled for March 15, given that the Legislative Session ends on time on March 9th
  • There will be two Candidate Forums/Town Halls in August and September
  • CRCC Policy Position Statement
  • The Chamber opposes HB 3/SB 1714 Economic Development and Tourism Promotion Accountability, HB 585/ SB 658 Tourist Development Tax Expansion, HB 815/SB 1180 County and Municipal Public Officers and Employees
  • The chamber opposes these bills because they would interfere with home rule, meaning that the state would make decisions instead of local governments
  • The committee approved the Policy Agenda
  • Florida Constitution Revision Commission Proposals
  • The Chamber will work to craft a statement on some of the constitutional revision commission proposals and submit it to the committee
  • Feel free to reach out to Darryl Henderson and Don Ewing regarding your concerns on the proposals
  • The upcoming Public Hearing for the Florida CRC in our area will be held on Tuesday, March 13 from 1-7pm at USF St. Petersburg, University Student Center200 6th Ave SSt. Petersburg, FL 33701
  • There was a gun control discussion held at the meeting and the chamber will craft a statement relating to gun control and send it out

Upcoming Events:

  • Post Session Tourism Update featuring Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson & Chairwoman Maryann Ferenc
  • Wednesday, March 28 from 7:00am-9:30am

Sandpearl Resort, 500 Mandalay Ave Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

  • Please follow this link to register:
  • Mardigras in May fundraiser to support SPC’s Women on the Way, a resource and support center developed to help women succeed in college.
  • The event will be May 5th
  • Kozuba and Sons Distillery1960 5th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
  • $75 per ticket
  • More details to follow