Subject:
Title
Ad Hoc Naming Rights Committee recommendation and accompanying resolution to rename the Pinellas Trail West Bay Overpass as the Albert L. “Bert” Valery III Overpass.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Parks and Conservation Resources Advisory Board’s recommendation (serving as the ad hoc honorary naming rights review committee) to rename the Pinellas Trail West Bay Overpass in memory of Albert L. “Bert” Valery III, as nominated by Albert Valery, Jr., through adoption of the accompanying resolution.
• Albert L. “Bert” Valery III was tragically killed at 17 years of age while riding a bicycle on the Belleair Causeway on April 1, 1983.
• The accident is widely credited as the catalyst for the parents of Albert Valery III to push for the formation of the County’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and, subsequently, the creation of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail.
• In accordance with the Honorary Naming Rights policy, an advertised public meeting on the naming request was held on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
• The Ad Hoc Honorary Naming Rights Committee voted unanimously to recommend naming the overpass in honor of Albert L. “Bert” Valery III to include signage on the overpass over West Bay Drive and approaches to the overpass from the Pinellas Trail.
• Funding for trail signage is included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Adopted Budget for the Parks and Conservation Resources Department within the General Fund.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community. Healthy and Safe Communities
Summary:
Approval of the recommendation and accompanying resolution will name the West Bay Overpass of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail in honor of Albert L. “Bert” Valery III.
Background/Explanation:
On April 1, 1983, 17-year-old Albert Valery III was killed on the Belleair Causeway while riding his bicycle home from a part-time job on the mainland. Soon after, his parents, Bert and Patti Valery, began petitioning the Board of County Commissioners for creation of a County Bicycle Advisory Committee advocating for bicycle-friendly road design and creation of separate bike ways.
A group of activist citizens, including Bert Valery, Scott Daniels and Ernie Foster subsequently started Pinellas Trails, Inc. (now Friends of the Pinellas Trail) a non-profit activist group and fund-raising organization, that campaigned for a linear park for cyclists and pedestrians that would run the length of the County. The idea became a reality in 1989 when the County proposed using Penny for Pinellas money to buy the CSX tracks and start development of the Pinellas Trail. The first segment of the trail, five miles in length, was officially opened on December 1, 1990, beginning at Taylor Park south to Seminole City Park.
Earlier this year, Bert Valery petitioned the County through its Honorary Naming Rights Policy to recognize his son’s role and tragedy as an impetus to the eventual creation of the Pinellas Trail. As required by the Honorary Naming Rights Policy, the County Administrator established the Parks and Conservation Resources Advisory Board as the ad hoc naming rights committee to review and make a recommendation on the request. Additionally, an advertised public meeting was held on April 18, 2024, concurrent with the Parks and Conservation Resources Advisory Board’s review of the request, and the committee unanimously recommended the Board of County Commissioners name the West Bay Overpass in honor of Albert L. “Bert“ Valery III.
Recognition would be achieved through placement of two signs on the West Bay Overpass (east and west bound) beneath the existing The Pinellas Trail signs, and two signs, approximately 18” x 24”, on the Pinellas Trail approaching the overpass.
Fiscal Impact:
Total cost for the signs is estimated as not to exceed $1,500.00. Funding for Trail signage is included in the FY24 Adopted Budget for the Parks and Conservation Resources Department within the General Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Staff Member Responsible:
Paul Cozzie, Director, Parks & Conservation Resources
Partners:
Parks & Conservation Resources Advisory Board
Attachments:
B Valery Naming Request
History of Pinellas Trail
Neighborhood News Dec 2015
Honorary Naming Rights Committee Letter
Electronic Affidavit of Publication
Honorary Naming Rights Policy
Resolution AATF