desoto fiasco averted?
In reference to my email expressing concern for Ft. DeSoto, I recieved a response from the Pinellas County Commission. They want me to know they are listening to us residents, and announce the death of the plan to add services to Ft. DeSoto Park:
Dear Concerned Citizen:
Tags: county, development, environment, tampa, tourismPreviously, you contacted the County Commission regarding proposed concession enhancements at Ft. Desoto park. In response to overwhelming public input, the County Commission today directed staff to rescind the current procurement process, and to begin a new, narrowly defined procurement process. The new request for proposal will solicit services similar to current offerings at the park, and will exclude beer and wine sales, trolley services, the full service restaurant and boat ramp bait store.On behalf of the County Commission, I want to thank you for providing your comments. We are working hard to provide you with responsive government, and appreciate your input. The text of our official press release is below.Regards,KenCommissioner Kenneth T. Welch
Pinellas County Commission Chairman
Pinellas County Responds to Citizens’ Concerns About Fort De Soto Proposal
After receiving hundreds of emails and phone calls from citizens expressing concerns about the perception of “commercialization” at Fort De Soto Park, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners today voted to reduce the scope of proposed enhanced services at the park and to reopen the bid process for a new concession contract.
During today’s board meeting, County Administrator Steve Spratt thanked citizens for their input and said that employees and administrators have “put their hearts, sweat and careers into preserving Fort De Soto and they would never do anything that would detract from the natural qualities of this magnificent 1,136-acre property.”
The new scope of services will be similar \nto those already offered at the park, excluding beer and wine, a trolley service, a full service restaurant and a boat ramp bait store. Fort De Soto already has food service, canoe and kayak rentals, a camp store, frozen bait sales and beach inflatables available for purchase under the present vendor. The current camp store, which is in a serious state of disrepair, will be replaced with a modular building.Since the present vendor contract expires in June, Pinellas County’s Purchasing Department will readvertise the new scope of services as soon as possible. The vendors who bid on the original request for proposal will be invited to bid again.
During today’s board meeting, County Administrator Steve Spratt thanked citizens for their input and said that employees and administrators have “put their hearts, sweat and careers into preserving Fort De Soto and they would never do anything that would detract from the natural qualities of this magnificent 1,136-acre property.”
The new scope of services will be similar to those already offered at the park, excluding beer and wine, a trolley service, a full service restaurant and a boat ramp bait store. Fort De Soto already has food service, canoe and kayak rentals, a camp store, frozen bait sales and beach inflatables available for purchase under the present vendor. The current camp store, which is in a serious state of disrepair, will be replaced with a modular building.
Since the present vendor contract expires in June, Pinellas County’s Purchasing Department will readvertise the new scope of services as soon as possible. The vendors who bid on the original request for proposal will be invited to bid again.
727.464.3614 voice
727.464.3022 fax
Please note: All mail sent to and from Pinellas County Government is subject to the Public Records Law of the State of Florida.
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February 22nd, 2006 at 1:37 pm
At least they scaled it back…nice to see that citizens are still heard at *some* level of government. Good job, Pinellas people.
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:15 pm
They’ve done this before — I have to give props to the PCC because they WILL listen.
I’m in North Pinellas — unincorporated, at that. The PCC had to give approval to recent efforts by Wal Mart and a developer to build a supercenter on the banks of Lake Tarpon, in the middle of an already congested region of US 19. The PCC killed the initiative (but there was public debate of the project, unlike Fort Desoto). Of course, Tarpon Springs whored out to Wal Mart a few months later, but that’s a different story.