Bill Summary: CS/HB 869 - Pinellas Planning Council Reorganization

• Reorganizes the Pinellas Planning Council to function as a single, unified board with the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), creating integrated land use and transportation planning with common membership.

• Repeals the existing countywide plan and establishes a new broadly defined, policy-based countywide plan with fewer land use categories, focusing on countywide issues related to future land use, transportation, and intergovernmental coordination.

• Grants the council an independent executive director and establishes powers to develop countywide plans, conduct strategic planning, employ staff, and coordinate growth management with local governments in collaboration with regional entities including TBARTA and PSTA.

• Requires local governments to make their future land use plans and land development regulations consistent with the new countywide plan map and rules within 3 years of adoption or by January 1, 2016, whichever occurs first.

• Provides for council funding through millage tax (not to exceed one-sixth of a mill) collected by the county tax collector, subject to Board of County Commissioners review, and requires annual independent audits.