23-20 DocuSign Envelope ID:07B6COCC-F521-44C6-AD8F-61 BOB81 FACC6
RESOLUTION NO. 23-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, EXPRESSING THE CITY'S OPPOSITION TO A
PROPOSED BILL AMENDING THE SPECIAL ACT THAT
CREATED THE PINELLAS SUNCOAST TRANSIT
AUTHORITY; DIRECTING CITY OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND OTHER INTERESTED
PARTIES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Central Pinellas Transit Authority (CPTA) was created in 1970
with the adoption by the State Legislature of Chapter 70-907, which provided for a
governing board with representatives appointed by the cities of northern Pinellas County;
and
WHEREAS, the CPTA merged with the City of St. Petersburg transit system in
1982 to create the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) pursuant to the
Legislature's adoption of Chapter 82-368, which provided for a governing board that
included representatives appointed by the member cities of Pinellas County; and
WHEREAS, under the direction of the present PSTA Board of Directors, the PSTA
in 2023 was recognized as the Outstanding Public Transportation System by the
American Public Transportation Association and the Florida Public Transportation
Association, both nationally and in the state of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the partnership shared between elected officials serving on the PSTA
Board of Directors benefits Pinellas County residents and businesses by fostering
collaboration between local governments; and
WHEREAS, a local bill has been proposed that deprives eleven (11) city
governments of direct representation on PSTA; and
WHEREAS, the local bill proposes that nearly two-fifths of the governing board be
comprised of private citizens appointed by Legislative leadership in Tallahassee; and
WHEREAS, private citizens appointed by lawmakers serving hundreds of miles
from Pinellas County will, even if the citizens themselves reside locally, be less
accountable to Pinellas County residents than the elected officials presently serving on
the Board of Directors; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Resolution No. 23-20
DocuSign Envelope ID:07136COCC-F521-44C6-AD8F-61BOB81FACC6
Section 1. The City of Clearwater opposes the current version of the local bill
insofar as it amends the PSTA special act to reduce the representation among local
elected officials in Pinellas County.
Section 2. The City Clerk shall provide a copy of this Resolution to every member
of the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation, the other cities of Pinellas County, the
Suncoast League of Cities, and the Florida Public Transportation Association and may
forward it to others as directed by the Mayor or City Manager.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of December, 2023.
DocuSigned by:
a"St
Brian J. Aungst, Sr.
Mayor
DS
Approved as to form: Attest:
DocuSigned by: DocuSigned by: � s
David Margolis Rosemarie Call
City Attorney City Clerk
2 Resolution 23-20