Citizens' Voice of Treasure Island

08/17/2026

A Better Standard for Treasure Island Development

“I do not support reducing the negotiated ceilings without supporting analysis….” Vice-Mayor Vasquez

That raises an important question:
Where is the supporting analysis for the proposed 80-foot height and 85 tourist-accommodation units per acre?

Comparing Treasure Island to St. Pete Beach or Madeira Beach doesn't prove that 80 feet is appropriate for Treasure Island. Our community doesn't have to follow the development model of our neighbors.

There is another way to look at this. Recent hotel projects in other Florida coastal communities demonstrate that developers can achieve their financial objectives with reasonable building heights and densities:
• Drury Plaza, Destin - 6 stories / 31.2 units per acre
• Residence Inn, Ormond Beach - 5 stories / 46.4 units per acre
• Compass by Margaritaville, Osprey - 4 stories / 24 units per acre
• Hilton Garden Inn, Cape Canaveral - 6 stories / 27.1 units per acre
• Marriott Tribute Portfolio, John's Pass - 6 stories / 59.7 units per acre

These are real projects moving forward in Florida coastal communities.

Treasure Island can attract quality investment without automatically increasing our development ceilings.

Let's base our decisions on actual financial and planning analysis - not assumptions about how high and how dense development must be.

Smart development is possible in Treasure Island.

08/15/2026

What Happened to the PD Compromise?

The Commission Meeting Agenda for 8/18 has been finalized, and it does not include discussion of a PD ordinance compromise. Instead, the agenda lists only a second reading of the “naked” PD ordinance—the version without guardrails limiting height and density. Residents deserve to know what happened to the compromise discussion.

At the Commission Meeting on July 21, Vice Mayor Vasquez added an agenda item titled “Vice Mayor Vasquez’s Ideas and Suggestions regarding Planned Developments.” Her prese​ntation included proposed amendments to Ordinance 2026-10, which had already passed first reading.

The documents provided to the other Commissioners and the public only days before the meeting described the goal as “Protecting the Comprehensive Plan • Preserving Private Property Rights • Establishing Predictable Development Standards.”

Because Commissioners had little time to prepare for a discussion on such an important topic, Commissioners Dickey and Clark proposed sending Ms. Vasquez’s proposal to a workshop where each point could be reviewed. Both commissioners agreed that exploring a compromise PD ordinance was worth the time and effort.

Following the meeting, both Dickey and Clark published position statements regarding the proposed PD ordinance. To date, however, there has been no public response from Vice Mayor Vasquez and no publicly announced effort to schedule a workshop or discussion of a possible compromise.

That silence matters because the public was led to believe there was still room for discussion. If the compromise proposal was serious, residents should expect a public explanation of where it stands before Commissioners vote on the second reading.

Does this silence mean Vice Mayor Vasquez intends to vote yes on the second reading of the “naked” PD proposal at the upcoming meeting?

If so, what was the purpose of her grand presentation of her ideas and suggestions on July 21st?

If Vice Mayor Vasquez now supports the same proposal without the guardrails she publicly raised, residents deserve an explanation for that change in position.

If that is the case, Vice Mayor Vasquez should explain why an opportunity to build a meaningful compromise on commercial development in Treasure Island was allowed to disappear.

08/07/2026

Let's Talk About Real Budget Reform
Every budget season presents an opportunity to examine how taxpayer dollars are collected, prioritized, and spent. While discussions about tax rates are important, meaningful tax relief requires a broader conversation about the spending decisions that drive the City's long-term financial obligations. Treasure Island residents deserve a budget process that emphasizes fiscal discipline, transparency, and responsible stewardship of every public dollar.

Point One: The Rollback Rate Is Only a Small Part of the Story

The rollback rate has become a popular talking point, but for most Treasure Island homeowners the annual savings amount to less than one hundred dollars. Any savings are appreciated, but the rollback rate alone does little to change the City's long-term financial outlook.

Residents deserve a broader discussion about how City government spends millions of taxpayer dollars each year, not simply a debate over a relatively modest annual tax reduction.

Point Two: Capital Spending Deserves Much Greater Public Attention

If the City is serious about reducing future tax burdens, the largest opportunities lie within the Capital Projects Budget.

Projects such as the proposed Public Safety Building, seawall construction, sewer improvements, street reconstruction, Public Works facilities, fleet replacement, and other major capital expenditures will influence Treasure Island's finances for decades.

Before asking residents to celebrate a relatively small tax reduction, City leaders should demonstrate that every major capital project has been thoroughly reviewed for necessity, scope, cost, and available alternatives.

Point Three: The Public Safety Building Is an Example Worth Examining

The proposed Public Safety Building illustrates why these discussions matter.

Public statements have referenced costs ranging from approximately $8 million to as much as $12 million or more. Before taxpayers commit to such a significant investment, they deserve complete transparency regarding project costs and alternatives.

Many residents have suggested utilizing the underutilized fourth floor of City Hall for Police operations while constructing a more modest facility for Fire Rescue, EMS, and Water Rescue. Whether that proves to be the preferred solution or not, alternatives that could save millions of taxpayer dollars deserve serious consideration before additional funds are committed.

Every dollar saved on one project becomes available for other community priorities.

Point Four: Treasure Island Has Competing Infrastructure Needs

The City's infrastructure continues to require substantial investment.

Seawalls, sidewalks, curbs, streets, sewer systems, drainage improvements, landscaping, and community beautification all compete for limited financial resources.

Fiscal responsibility requires elected officials to prioritize projects based upon long-term community benefit rather than allowing any single project to consume resources that may be needed elsewhere.

Point Five: Personnel Costs Should Receive the Same Level of Scrutiny

Capital spending is only one side of the equation.

Personnel costs have increased substantially in recent years and should be reviewed with the same level of discipline applied to every other area of the budget.

Responsible government requires periodic evaluation of staffing levels, organizational efficiency, employee responsibilities, and overall operational effectiveness. Every taxpayer deserves confidence that City resources are being used wisely.

The Real Conversation Residents Want

Treasure Island residents are not asking for political slogans. They are asking for responsible financial stewardship.

Meaningful reductions in future millage rates will not come from emphasizing the rollback rate alone. They will come from making difficult decisions about capital spending, controlling personnel costs, evaluating alternatives, and ensuring that every tax dollar delivers the greatest possible public benefit.

That is the conversation our residents deserve.

If Commissioners are committed to protecting taxpayers, then move beyond discussions of the rollback rate and begin examining the decisions that will have the greatest financial impact on Treasure Island for years to come.

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

For anyone who couldn’t attend last night’s meeting, you missed Commissioner Arden Dickey’s report, where he presented his Vision Forward for the City of Treasure Island.

Commissioner Dickey continues to listen closely to his constituents and approaches each issue with thoughtful research, so his decisions are grounded in facts rather than assumptions.

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

For anyone who couldn’t attend or watch last night’s meeting, you missed Commissioner Arden Dickey’s report, where he presented his Vision Forward for the City of Treasure Island.

Commissioner Dickey continues to listen closely to his constituents and approaches each issue with thoughtful research, so his decisions are grounded in facts rather than assumptions.

07/31/2026

Treasure Island Commissioners Seek Common Ground on the Planned Development Ordinance! This is a Positive Step Forward.

Treasure Island is at an important crossroads. The proposed Planned Development (PD) Ordinance will influence how commercial redevelopment occurs throughout our city for many years.

The proposed ordinance 2026-10 establishes the rules under which future Planned Development projects may request flexibility from existing zoning standards. Because these standards will shape future redevelopment throughout our community, it is important that the ordinance reflects careful consideration and broad public input.

One encouraging outcome from the July 21 Commission Meeting was the willingness of several commissioners to openly discuss revisions to the proposed Planned Development Ordinance rather than simply moving it forward unchanged.

Vice-Mayor Vasquez presented several proposed amendments to Ordinance 2026-10. We applaud her stated objectives of protecting the City's Comprehensive Plan, preserving private property rights, and establishing predictable development standards.

Commissioners Arden Dickey and Chris Clark also participated in a thoughtful discussion regarding potential revisions to the ordinance.

It is encouraging to see these three commissioners working toward a practical compromise that could result in a stronger and more balanced Planned Development Ordinance.

Although Commissioners Dickey and Clark discussed their ideas during the meeting, written versions of their positions were not included in the official meeting record. Through a Florida Public Records request, CVTI obtained copies of the written materials prepared by both commissioners. We have sent out all 3 commissioners' ideas to the CVTI email subscribers so residents can compare the different approaches being considered and better understand the ongoing discussion. Email [email protected] if you are not on our list and want copies.

The willingness of commissioners to openly exchange ideas is an important step toward developing an ordinance that serves the long-term interests of Treasure Island. Productive public discussion and thoughtful compromise are essential when establishing policies that will affect our community for decades.

We encourage Vice-Mayor Vasquez, Commissioners Dickey and Clark to continue this constructive dialogue during a future Commission workshop or regular meeting so they can work together toward a final ordinance that reflects broad community input.

An informed public leads to better decisions, and your understanding of the issues helps ensure that Treasure Island continues to grow in a manner that protects the character of our community while providing clear and predictable development standards for everyone.

07/30/2026

Community Redevelopment Meetings
New Times (6:30-8:30)
New Location (Community Center)

Because the last two meetings reached capacity on the 5th Floor and to help ensure everyone who wants to participate in next week's meetings can, the Treasure Island Community Redevelopment Meetings location has been moved to the Treasure Island Community Center (154 106th Ave.); and times changed to 6:30 - 8:30 PM.

MON, AUG 3 - John's Pass Focus Area
WED, AUG 5 - Downtown Focus Area