ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — St. Pete Beach Public Works Director Mike Clarke said he will take aggressive action to mitigate flooding in the Don CeSar neighborhood at the Tuesday city commission meeting after more than a dozen residents complained about the lack of response.

“I’m going to try to take some very, very, aggressive action here in the very near future with that particular location,” he said. “We might be able to plug up that 36th Avenue seawall.”

District 3 Commissioner Betty Rzewnicki represents the Don CeSar neighborhood and put the flooding issue on the agenda. Rzewnicki said water stands in her neighborhood for so long tadpoles can grow into frogs.

“The homes along the Bayway have water all the time on their sidewalks,” she said. “The frogs are born in our sidewalks.”

Rzewnicki said 40 residents sent emails to the City Commission about the flooding problem and 14 showed up to speak in person at the meeting. They said they want fewer studies and more action from the city.

“Don CeSar Place has been under water for a long time,” said resident Ed Chima. “The city has embarked on more studies than Harvard.”

Resident Craig Stephen said he has been disappointed by the city’s lack of urgency to respond to the need which has been years in the making.

“Being the lowest spot on St. Pete Beach, one would think that we would attract more immediate attention to our neighborhood problems,” he said. “We need can-do people with can do attitudes, and a City Commission that works to solve our problems.”

Resident Mary McReynolds said her neighbors have been discouraged by promises made by the city which were not followed through on.

“Many people have lost vehicles. Many people have moved out. A lot of people have given up,” she said. “Some people didn’t come tonight because they don’t feel like the commission or the city cares about them.”

Since 2020, Rzewnicki pointed out the city’s own studies offered solutions and how much they would cost. Mayor Adrian Petrila was not aware of that information when he chimed in over zoom at the meeting.

“What I don’t hear is, is what is the solution?” he said.  “How much money do we need and what do we spend it on?”

The comment from the mayor made one resident so angry he shouted and was escorted out of the meeting by Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies. Rzewnicki said she understands the frustration.

“We have had many solutions brought to the neighborhood,” she said. “Unfortunately, nothing has been completed.”

Clarke said the solution will be connecting multiple watershed basins to reverse the flow of water underground, add pump stations and raise all seawalls to 5 feet.

“The conversation that must take place is what are we going to do with the seawalls that surround the Don CeSar neighborhood,’ he said. “That is your solution.”

The cost to fix the Don CeSar neighborhood would be about $50 million and would jump to $100 million for the entire city, according to Clarke. The Public Works director said he got a good idea after talking to resident Kathy Garchow who was featured in a Spectrum News story this past Monday.

“The other day Kathy and I were out taking a look at the 36th Avenue situation and Josh Rojas did quite a nice interview with Kathy,” said Clarke. “She said, ‘Mike why can’t we just do a temporary solution? Why do I have to wait through another hurricane season?’ I thought to myself, 'Holy cow. OK, thanks for the challenge.'”

Garchow was upset a leaky spillway seawall at 36th Avenue and at East Maritana Drive, which fills the street with seawater during high tide, would not fixed until after hurricane season. Clarke said he believes public works can do a temporarily plug up the seawall, which will cost about $36,000.

“I’m taking the cost for approval to the next City Commission meeting,” he said. “After approval, it should take about five to six weeks to complete the job.”

Garchow said she’s grateful and celebrating a quick win.

“I am appreciative that Mike Clarke is exploring solutions to help our neighborhood get some immediate relief from the everyday high tide flooding,” she said. “Let’s hope they can get this done.”

Rzewnicki said she’d like to see the city hire a full-time chief of resiliency officer and create a "no wake zone" for the neighborhood. Clarke will present a comprehensive report on the flooding problem at a town hall meeting on Wednesday.