03/09/2026
OPEN LETTER FROM
MAYOR PETRILA:
Some say the future of St. Pete Beach is about growth at any cost.
I disagree.
The future of our city must always start with one simple question: What is best for the residents who call St. Pete Beach home?
When I ran for mayor, I promised to stand up for our residents, protect the character of our neighborhoods, and bring a culture of accountability back to city government. Since taking office, that promise has guided every decision I’ve made.
I’ll also be the first to admit that I’m not perfect. I care deeply about this community, and I’m passionate about protecting St. Pete Beach, its residents, and the small businesses that make our city special. At times, that passion may come across as tough or direct. If any of my actions or words have ever felt harsh, disrespectful, or lacking empathy, I sincerely apologize. That has never been my intent.
Everything I do as mayor comes from a simple place: a deep commitment to protecting the community we all love.
Standing Up to Overdevelopment
For years, residents felt like large development projects were being pushed forward without enough consideration for their impacts on our community.
I knew we could do better.
That’s why I have pushed back on unchecked overdevelopment and I have fought to ensure that when projects do move forward, they do so with meaningful community benefits.
I have negotiated on behalf of residents, securing millions of dollars in community contributions that help fund infrastructure improvements and protect our quality of life.
As our Comprehensive Plan states, our city is largely built out. The goal should never be endless growth.
The goal should be smart, responsible redevelopment that respects our community and benefits residents.
And that is exactly the approach I will continue to take.
Keeping Taxes Low While Solving Big Problems
When I became mayor, we uncovered something that had been ignored for too long.
Our infrastructure, sewer systems, stormwater systems, roads, and resiliency improvements, had suffered from years of neglect.
After the hurricanes, it became clear just how urgent many of these needs were.
Today we know the truth:
St. Pete Beach faces more than $200 million in infrastructure needs.
I put forward a plan focused on finding innovative ways to fund these improvements without increasing property taxes and placing the burden on home and business owners.
That means:
• Negotiating stronger developer contributions
• Capturing new revenue sources instead of raising taxes
• Pursuing grants and state funding
• Leveraging redevelopment tools to reinvest in our community
• Making sure visitors and commercial activity contribute to maintaining the infrastructure they use
Residents should not be the only ones paying the bill.
The Work Isn’t Finished
We’ve made meaningful progress together, but the job is far from done.
We must continue to:
• Protect our neighborhoods from overdevelopment
• Invest in the infrastructure our city depends on
• Keep taxes low for residents
• Strengthen our resiliency against future storms
• Ensure city government always puts residents first
St. Pete Beach is a special place. People move here because of its charm, its community, and its unique character.
Protecting that character requires leadership willing to stand up for residents, even when it’s not the easy path.
That’s the work I’ve been doing as your mayor.
And with your vote on March 10, it’s the work I will continue for you.
Adrian Petrila
