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Meeting Summary from April 8, 2025, Tierra Verde Community Information Meeting about the Idea of an MSTU

April 8, 2025, 6-8 p.m.

Tampa Bay Watch – 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715

Summary of what was learned from the April 8 meeting:

  1. The meeting was well attended, and there were a lot of questions and good participation from the community.
  2. There is still an understandable level of confusion about the ownership and maintenance of the Bayway and what could be expected in the future.
  3. Residents want to know what will happen with their TVCA dues if an MSTU is created because they want to know if this will be additional expense to them or just a transfer of a portion of what they previously paid TVCA.
  4. There was a “dots” exercise during the meeting to get a sense of how people were feeling about the options presented. This is just one of many ways to gather community input. The majority of the dots were placed on the no MSTU option, the MSTU Option 1, and the MSTU Option 4. (See pictures and explanation below.)
  5. Anecdotally, it seemed that there was not a great deal of support for a recreation center. Combining the choice of whether to create an MSTU with the choice of whether to build the recreation center affected the outcome of the dots exercise. Decoupling these choices would help the County better understand the community’s wishes. Some people expressed an interest in Option 4 because it included additional funding for enhancements, but not because of the recreation center.
  6. Some residents expressed an interest in having this idea put forward in a referendum. Staff responded that it could.

Review of the meeting and community feedback

Approximately 83 people were in attendance. 

A photograph of Assistant to the County Administrator Audrey Ables addressing the meeting, and a slide that says "The Challenge: 1. Find out what the community wants for the future of the median landscaping, street lighting & sports complex. 2. If the community still wants an enhanced level of service, create a sustainable way to provide this.

Posters on easels around the room explained the following:

  • What a Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) is.
  • Three examples of MSTUs in Pinellas County.
  • The plans for the recreation center that was designed, but is on hold.
  • Five options for residents to consider: one where no MSTU is created and four potential options for an MSTU with different examples of services at different millage rates.
A photograph of community members looking at posters and speaking with staff after the presentation
A photograph of a man and woman looking at a poster about the proposed Tierra Verde recreation center, while a male county staff person points at a section of the floor plan.

The Presentation

County staff opened the meeting and introduced County Commissioner Kathleen Peters, who represents District 6, which includes Tierra Verde.

Commissioner Peters explained that she has heard from residents about the condition of landscaping along the Bayway. She spoke about the success of MSTUs in other communities, such as Feather Sound and East Lake.

Staff gave a presentation covering a brief history of the median landscaping and Sports Complex. Staff explained what an MSTU is and provided five options to show what the community might be able to do with different millage rates to fund an MSTU. Options one through four were different millage rates, and the fifth was the option of not having an MSTU.

See the PDF file of the slides from the presentation.

How We Collected Feedback

Questions and Answers

Following the Presentation, participants were given the opportunity to ask clarifying questions and provide comments. The County Administrator, Commissioner Kathleen Peters, and the Assistant to the County Administrator responded to questions and comments. Community members were also able to address each other during this open comment section of the meeting.

The “Dots” Exercise

Each attendee was given three green dot stickers when they entered. They were encouraged to listen to the presentation, speak with staff about the information on the posters, and then place their dots on the option or options they liked best.

Comment Cards

Attendees also received comment cards that they could complete and turn in at the meeting or use to access the same comment form online.

Results of the “Dots” Exercise

Attendees could use their three dots to indicate their preference for one or more options. While this is not a statistically valid way to determine whether the community is for or against the MSTU, it does provide helpful insights into the opinions of the people who attended. The most dots were placed on the “No MSTU” option (57). The second most were placed on Option 1 (33) and the third most on Option 4 (31). Options 2 and 3 each received only one dot. Anecdotal conversations suggested that some of the people who put a dot on Option 4 did so not because of the recreation center, but because they preferred an option that would provide funding for additional amenities in the future. Photographs of each poster and the dots placed on that option are below.

A photograph of a poster with the title "No MSTU" followed by Median Landsdaping Reverts Mainly to Grass. No Recreation Center. Sports Complex Reverts to a Passive Park. On the right side of the photo is the board where attendees placed dot stickers to indicate that they liked this option. After the original photo was taken a few more dots were added so there is an inset photograph of the final page with 33 dot stickers on it placed by residents to indicate that they like this option.
A photograph of a poster that says Option 1: 0.3 mil Enhanced Landscaping Maintain Sports Complex No Recreation Center No Future Enhancement Funding This is followed by a table that shows the estimated revenue is $502,699, followed by a possible budget that is not legible on the photograph.
A photograph of a poster that says Option 2: 0.35 mil Enhanced Landscaping Recreation Center with Part-Time Staffing No Future Enhancement Funding Followed by a table showing estimated revenue is $586,448 and an example budget that is not legible. This option received one dot from attendees.
A photograph of a poster that says Option 3: 0.4 mil Enhanced Landscaping Recreation Center with Full-Time Staffing No Future Enhancement Funding Followed by a table showing estimated revenue is $670,226 and an example budget that is not legible. This option received one dot from attendees.
A photograph of a poster that says Option 4: 0.455 mil Enhanced Landscaping Recreation Center with Part-Time Staffing Future Enhancement Funding Followed by a table showing estimated revenue is $762,382 and an example budget that is not legible. This option received 31 dots from attendees.

Comment Cards

The following comments were received in writing at the meeting or after it from the online comment form:

Printed comment cards, 4/8/2024

No new taxes until the stupid bike lanes and concrete barriers are removed. You didn’t listen to us on that either. Clarifying Note: The bike lanes were a state project.

Please quantity the survey/feedback/comment data & publish it on a “dashboard” as suggested by Commissioner Peters; by email “updates” per above. Please do not make a subjective decision based on the loudest voices, a few bitter vocal comments, or a few strong emails, especially from “long term” “powerful” “politically connected” or “wealthy” individuals

$ from Pennies for Pinellas for rec center. The property building the boat storage at Marina is VERY disappointing. Thank you for the information.

We need a welcome to TV sign. Clean the Bayway & make it beautiful again, no rec center.

I support MSTU however do not feel rec center in necessary.

No rec center. Maintain the Bayway!!!

No rec center

Recreation center not needed. Traffic would get worse. Exercise classes at church is enough. Pickleball courts can be expanded at the current rec area.

Online comment cards:

No need for building a community center. Currently funds in the penny fund and in TVCA HOA fees should be used to maintain current facilities/median. NO need for a special tax district. Let’s DOGE this community and maintain high standards at the same time.

No interest in adding an MSTU

Doing the MSTU is the right way to go. Important though that the planning of the activities of the MTSU is coordinated with the long-range planning committee of the TVCA. I personally wouldn’t mind taking part on the MSTU Board.

I’m for this MSTU IF there is an offset (reduction in my TVCA dues). Doesn’t have to be $ for $ but should be at least 80%.  MANY people at the meeting voiced a similar opinion. So the faster clarity and transparency is put out on that then the more support this gets.  I also still think people believe this is vote on a rec center or not.  So maybe for next meeting have it clearer that it’s one idea another idea could be more pickle ball courts or another etc etc. the point is this is in your control.  Lastly based on how previous TCVA boards ran and were picked there is a fear that this MSTU board will be a small group of people whose pet projects will be chosen and their really won’t be true oversight or some way for residents to have a check and balance. In general I like it and I think you get a majority to support it IF they know that when one side goes up the other side comes down. Basically how much would the offset be between MSTU tax and TVCA HOA dues. 

I approve the .4 MSTU

I am not in favor of establishing a MSTU. I am voting against it.

Comment Cards Received by Staff at Office Hours

Not for added special taxes. However, the Tierra Verde residents need to understand where all our taxes go to versus what we are all paying.

I do not support the MSTU. I do not support a new rec center.

I do not support any tax increase.

No to MSTU. Keep TVCA and work thorough them.

I do not support MSTU tax.

Against more taxation, extra fees, to keep up TV medians.