BELLEAIR — Plans to improve a portion of Indian Rocks Road are moving forward, Town Manager Gay Lancaster told commissioners March 17.

During her monthly report, Lancaster said the town had been “granted permission to move to 100% plans for Indian Rocks Road Phase 3.” She said staff obtained a permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the project was “chugging right along,” adding they “hope to get those shovels in the ground” by the end of the year.

“That would be great,” Deputy Mayor Tom Shelly said.

Last month, the board unanimously decided to keep the original proposal to place an 8-foot-wide multimodal path, a significant component of the project’s third phase — on the west side of Indian Rocks Road.

In addition to the west-side path, the $6 million project includes a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side, a three-way stop at the intersection of Eastleigh Drive and a new bridge along the route.

Charter review

Lancaster also said the town must establish a charter review committee as part of a mandated 10-year cycle that calls for an independent body of five residents to review the town’s charter.

“Every 10 years the charter requires that we establish a charter review committee, and we bring it up now because they start meeting in June,” Lancaster said.

She said officials and staff discussed how long the committee should deliberate, “and in order to make the fall election time, they would need to complete their work in mid-July. And that’s a very tight timeframe.”

But she said “there’s no need to rush” because there are two potential deadlines: the November general election or the municipal elections next March.

“We consulted with our attorney, and it’s safe to say we’re comfortable either way,” Lancaster said, adding she planned to “consult with the commissioners and bring the recommendations back to you next month.”

Police contract

The commission unanimously approved an agreement with the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association on a contract that will run through September 2028.

“It’s critical that we provide sufficient benefits and amenities for our officers,” Lancaster said while praising staff, including HR Director Nanette Freeman, for their work on finalizing the deal.

“They work hard, they understand the meaning of public service, and we have an extraordinary group of officers working under Chief Rick Doyle.”

The motion passed 4-0. Mayor Mike Wilkinson was absent.

Town honored

Assistant Pinellas County Administrator Matt Spoor presented Belleair officials with a certificate recognizing the town for 45 years of utilizing a council-manager form of government.

Spoor spoke about the town’s commitment to the style of local government in which an elected board of commissioners hires a manager to serve as chief executive, a position that can be vacated by a simple majority vote of the board at any time.

“On behalf of the Florida City and County Management Association, it is a privilege to present the Town of Belleair with a certificate recognizing 2026 as your 45th year operating under the council-manager form of government,” Spoor said to open the meeting.

Spoor, the former longtime city manager of Safety Harbor, explained how “the council-manager form of government was established to separate policymaking from administration using merit-based, professional local government management.” He noted the manager is tasked with “implementing policies and overseeing the day-to-day operations in an ethical, efficient and accountable manner.”

He said nearly 70% of Florida’s 411 municipalities utilize the council-manager form of government and that 65 of the state’s 67 counties are professionally managed.

“This form of government is acknowledged by the International City and County Management Association,” Spoor said while praising the leadership of Lancaster, a former county official, and the town’s “sustained commitment” to 45 years of council-manager governance.

“On behalf of the officers, board of directors and membership of FCCMA, we offer our sincere congratulations on this milestone achievement.”

Spoor then posed for a group photo with Lancaster and the board. Deputy Mayor Tom Shelly was filling in for Mayor Mike Wilkinson.