Indian Shores meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Indian Shores officials review budget, building fees, police contract; no decisions published

Indian Shores officials met several times over the past two weeks to discuss the town's budget, building permit fees, and police contract, but no decisions have been published yet. The most significant item on the agenda is the draft FY2026/2027 budget, which projects a $198,940 deficit. All recent meetings are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published.

Police contract negotiations

On Aug. 12, the Town Council held a public meeting to negotiate the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) contract. The agenda included only the negotiations and adjournment, with public comments limited to three minutes. The meeting took place at the Indian Shores Municipal Center, 4th floor. No minutes have been published.

Building permit fees

On Aug. 19, the Planning, Zoning and Building Committee discussed Resolution No. 13-2026, which would adopt a flat fee schedule for building permits to comply with Florida House Bill 803. The new schedule would replace valuation-based fees with flat fees and per-square-foot charges. Under the proposal, a building permit would cost $150, plan review $50 (or $200 for a combination), and inspections $75 each. Floodplain permit fees would be $40, or $330 for new construction. New construction fees would be $1.50 per square foot up to 5,000 square feet, $3 per square foot for 5,000 to 10,000 square feet, and $4.50 per square foot over 10,000 square feet. The committee was scheduled to make a recommendation to the Town Council. No minutes have been published.

Town Council workshop: budget and marine unit

Also on Aug. 19, the Town Council held a workshop to review the draft FY2026/2027 budget. The draft shows revenues of $5,549,365 and expenditures of $5,410,870, leaving a $198,940 deficit. The police department budget would increase by $221,842 (9.8%) to $2,475,536, while Public Services would decrease by $195,028 (19.2%) to $823,226. The council also discussed plans for a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office marine unit office and boat dock at 19305 Gulf Blvd., and proposed town holiday celebrations and festivals. No formal votes were scheduled.

Town Council regular meeting

The same day, the Town Council held public hearings on several items: a second reading of Ordinance 2026-01 to repeal shark fishing regulations (Chapter 14, Section 14-3) due to state preemption; a first reading of Ordinance 2026-02 to allow the Town Administrator to grant permits for RVs, boats, or trailers; Resolution 12-2026 amending the FY2025-2026 budget; Resolution 13-2026 adopting the flat fee schedule for building permits; and renewal of the annual agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for ancillary services for FY 2026-2027. No minutes have been published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 26 – Police Pension Board:** Quarterly meeting to review proposed budgets for 2026-2027 and 2027, the October 1, 2025 actuarial valuation, and a portfolio update as of June 30, 2026. Also on the agenda: payment ratification of Warrant #74.
• **Aug. 26 – Beach customary use informational meeting:** A joint public informational session with Pinellas County on beach customary use. No formal action will be taken. Held at the Indian Shores Municipal Center, 4th Floor Community Center.

Indian Shores Town Council to Set Tentative Millage Rate, Review Gulf Boulevard Site Plans at July 14 Meeting

Indian Shores officials have a full agenda for July 14, with the Town Council scheduled to review a tentative property tax rate, hold public hearings on three residential construction projects along Gulf Boulevard, and consider repealing local shark fishing rules to match state law. All items below come from published agendas; minutes have not yet been released, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Millage Rate and Budget Schedule

The Town Council agenda includes setting a tentative millage rate of 1.8700 mills for FY2026/2027. Budget hearings are scheduled for September 9 and September 21. The millage rate determines the property tax residents pay per $1,000 of assessed value.

Gulf Boulevard Site Plan Reviews

Public hearings are scheduled for three site plan reviews along Gulf Boulevard:

• A single-family home at 19800 Gulf Boulevard #A
• A five-floor condominium at 18840 Gulf Boulevard
• A single-family home at 19235 Gulf Boulevard

The Planning, Zoning and Building Committee is also reviewing the same three requests. These are quasi-judicial reviews, meaning the council will hear evidence before deciding whether to approve each project.

Shark Fishing Ordinance Repeal

The council will consider Ordinance No. 2026-01, which would repeal Chapter 14 (Animals) of the local code. The agenda states the repeal is due to Florida state preemption of shark fishing regulations, meaning the state now governs those rules and the local chapter is no longer enforceable.

Employee Salary Adjustments

The Administrative and Finance Committee is reviewing pay increase recommendations for FY 2026/2027:

• A 2.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) based on the December 2025 CPI-W
• A 2.4% salary increase for non-exempt personnel
• A 1.4% salary increase for exempt personnel

The Town Council agenda lists proposed salary increases of 2.4% for non-exempt staff and 1.4% for exempt staff, effective October 1, 2026. The COLA recommendation appears in the committee agenda separately.

Bingo License Agreement and Beach Ordinance

The council will review a license agreement for the Indian Shores Property Owners Association (ISPOA) to host recurring bingo nights in the Municipal Center event space.

The workshop portion includes an update on Hurricane Helene federal reimbursements and a review of the Beach Customary Use ordinance.

Service Agreements and Repairs

The agenda also includes an interlocal agreement with ForwardPinellas for planning services and a purchase order for tennis and pickleball court repairs.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should watch for the September 9 and September 21 budget hearings, where the council will finalize the FY2026/2027 budget and millage rate.

Indian Shores Town Council Weighs $226K Budget Deficit, Discusses Pickleball Courts

The Indian Shores Town Council held a workshop June 30 to review the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, which shows a $226,582 deficit. No votes were taken; the meeting was a discussion session.

Budget Deficit and Tax Rate

The projected shortfall is the central issue in the draft budget. The Town Council did not set a final tax rate, but the proposal keeps the property tax millage rate at 1.8700 mills for the 15th consecutive year. That rate would bring in the same revenue as the current year. The gap will need to be closed through spending cuts, fee changes, or other adjustments before a final budget vote later this summer.

Department Training Requests

Council members also reviewed $34,725 in training budget requests across all town departments. The figure covers seminars, certifications, and professional development for staff. No specific cuts or approvals were discussed; the amounts will be part of the overall budget deliberation.

ParkMobile Merchant Fees

Council discussed the merchant fees charged by ParkMobile, the town’s parking payment app. The agenda references pages 32–34 of the budget packet, but no firm action was taken. The discussion likely centered on whether the town’s share of transaction costs could be lowered or passed to users.

Pickleball Court Development

Another topic was the potential development of pickleball courts. The council talked about possible locations and costs, but no site or funding source was identified. The conversation was preliminary, with no formal proposal or vote.

Because the meeting was a workshop, none of these items were decided. The council is expected to hold public hearings and a final budget adoption later this summer. Residents can find the full agenda packet on the town’s website.

Coming Up

No upcoming Town Council meetings are listed on the town calendar through July 19. The next regular meeting or budget hearing will be published when scheduled.