Government Digest 2/19/10

Pier's fate discussed
ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg Pier's fate may be decided in coming weeks after final public hearings and a citizen task force's recommendations go to the city council next month. The 700-foot pier needs major repairs as does the inverted pyramid-shaped building at the end of it.
The cost estimate for the pier alone is $50 million. A city icon for nearly four decades, the pier costs taxpayers $1.5 million a year in operating costs plus another $300,000 to $500,000 in capital improvements. The city anticipates a $14 million budget deficit next year.

A number of redevelopment options are being considered, including shortening the length of the pier by 600 feet and constructing a new building on land with a pedestrian-only pier extending behind the new structure. Pinellas County also wants more say in the project's financing in exchange for advancing tax increment financing funds to pay for consultant work. That turn of events has Mayor Bill Foster suggesting the county should just handle the project itself.

Grant runs for House
TAMPA — James Grant, a 27-year-old attorney and son of former state Sen. John Grant, is running on a pro-business, conservative platform for the Florida House District 47 seat being vacated by Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa.