Pinellas commissioners to weigh drone contract and SPCA settlement Tuesday

Pinellas County commissioners will meet Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Clearwater with 40 agenda items, including a proposal to award a five-firm unmanned aerial services contract and a separate county attorney item on a proposed settlement in SPCA Tampa Bay v. Pinellas County.

What the drone contract would cover

If approved, the contract would give the county a pool of firms for drone work tied to topographic surveys, ecological assessments and asset inspections. The summary also says the missions could include shoreline and marine structure inspections and damage assessment, which matters for county infrastructure and environmental monitoring work.

Seven firms submitted proposals, and staff recommended the top five firms for a combined $3.125 million over five years. County staff also say the work would be ordered as needed, with spending tied to task orders and annual budget authority rather than an automatic draw on the full amount.

The SPCA item

The other item is a proposed settlement in a pre-suit claim brought by SPCA Tampa Bay against the county. The posted summary says it will go before commissioners under a confidential memorandum dated Oct. 27, so residents should treat it as a pending board decision, not a finished one.

Residents who want to follow the decision can watch the 2 p.m. regular meeting in the Palm Room at 333 Chestnut Street, with public hearings scheduled for 6 p.m.