PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — The city of Pinellas Park is considering a new location for City Council meetings. 

What You Need To Know

  • City Manager Bart Diebold said the cost of moving to a new location for City Council meetings could cost around $2,000,000

  • The Pinellas Park City Council planned to vote Thursday to authorize conceptual drawings

  • Diebold hopes council meetings will be in a new location within two years

City Manager Bart Diebold said they’ve been at the same spot for 50 years. 

However, despite attempts to modernize the room, Diebold said it’s time to move. 

“We’ve replaced a lot of stuff and try to keep it up to date,” he said. “Our wiring and network stuff is not where it should be for, like Bluetooth features and the wireless type of things that are out there in this day and age.”

It’s not just about the features. 

Diebold said the layout of the room makes it difficult for some to get to the podium, and he worries about others falling down the steps. 

“If you’re in a wheelchair, you can’t get down here to the podium to speak to the council,” he said.

Diebold hopes the meetings move to Park Station down the road.

First up is authorizing conceptual drawings that cost around $50,000. The council planned a Thursday vote on that topic.

Diebold said there will still be more decisions and money before it’s all said and done.

“It’s going to be maybe $2,000,000, somewhere in that ballpark,” Diebold said. “I’d love to see it less than that but versus buying a whole new building which we’re talking $60, $70 (million), even on the way up, it’s a lot better for us to redo a building.”

Diebold hopes to be in the new building within two years.