Election Qualifying for City Council Opens Friday in Belleair Beachby Leo CoughlinBELLEAIR BEACH - Beginning Friday, residents interested in participating in the government of this small city can go to City Hall and initiate qualifying for office. Three seats are up for grabs. Councilmembers David Dumville and Mitch Krach have indicated that they will seek re-election. Richard Crowl has said he will not. So at least one seat is wide open for the seven-member City Council. At Tuesday night's council meeting, the question of ending the mandatory availability of standpipes, or fire pumps, at condominiums was once again put off. The council could end the requirement but because no representative from Suncoast Fire & Rescue was available at the meeting to answer questions the council delayed final action. Originally, the need for the fire pumps was because water pressures were low and pumps were needed to force water to second and third floor levels. The requirement now appears to be outmoded and last month, Suncoast Fire & Rescue officials indicated that if condominiums installed fire hydrants from which fire fighters can pump water their needs would be met. Because of their concerns in regard to possible details that might be reflected in state laws, the council wants to bounce the idea off the fire marshal and tabled further action until that input can be received. The council also wants to hear from the affected condos. On another item, regarding use fees and bookings for the use of the new City Hall/Community Center, the council learned that no bookings have been made. City Manager Nancy Gonzalez reported that two residents had wanted to use the facility for two hours, but dropped their request when they learned there was a six-hour minimum. Crowl pointed out that the sailing club building on Sand Key is used extensively and is well booked for use and wanted to know why the Belleair Beach facility is not promoted more aggressively. Gonzalez is going to review the situation and look into getting a professional booker and promoter and also consider lowering minimum times for use of the center. The council decided to go ahead and take bids for fuel service at the city marina, with the caveat that the provider of services and the boat owners who will use the fuel take full responsibility for environmental and other liability factors. A review of and possible re-scheduling of capital improvements in the city is going to be done in view of current revenues. Mike Kelly, a resident and former mayor, brought to the attention of the council a situation where currents in the Intracoastal Waterway have resulted in the building up of sand along the southern shore of Belleair Beach which could constitute a hazard. Kelly said that a drowning occurred some years ago as a result of the sand build up creating a strong current and he asked that the city request the county to dredge the area as it had done in the past.
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