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Palm Harbor Coalition To Hold Incorporation Meeting
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Published: February 16, 2008
PALM HARBOR, Fla. - PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Answering questions and addressing concerns about incorporation will be the focus next week of a Palm Harbor Coalition town meeting.
The coalition will conduct the public meeting 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Palm Harbor Community Activity Center, 1500 16th St., off Nebraska Avenue.
According to Jim Kleyman, a coalition founder and spokesman, the group is still gathering suggestions and comments from as much of the public as possible. So the Feb. 21 meeting will not be the place to debate the pros and cons of turning the Palm Harbor area into a city, he said.
Once a proposed Palm Harbor municipal charter and feasibility study are finalized, the coalition will sponsor a debate on incorporation, Kleyman said.
Coalition leaders were pleasantly surprised at the quality of people who have volunteered to serve on the group's incorporation committees, Kleyman said.
More than 40 residents and business people from a variety of backgrounds came forward to serve on the committees, Kleyman said. Many worked in government so they have knowledge about drafting city budgets and other areas of municipal government, he said.
Committees have been meeting weekly to finalize a charter and address whether incorporation is financially feasible.
Last year the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation agreed to bring the Palm Harbor incorporation issue before the Legislature. Lawmakers would have to call a referendum election on whether to create a city of Palm Harbor.
The coalition's main task, Kleyman said, would be proving to area residents that turning Palm Harbor into a city would not mean higher property tax bills. Palm Harbor -area residents already pay property tax levies to operate Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, the Palm Harbor Library and Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation.
Residents in other unincorporated North Pinellas communities, such as Ozona, Crystal Beach or East Lake, could choose to become a part of a city of Palm Harbor, Kleyman said. The coalition, however, would not try to force any of those areas to accept incorporation, he said.
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