Longboat Key Letters – May 2010
Updated May 28, 2010.
PIC representatives outstanding
To: Judy Achre; Ed Adams; Dick Antoine; Gaele Barthold; Ben Feole; Chuck Fuller; Scott Hase; Tom Klein; Len Landau; Jack McMahon; Dick Pelton, et al.
My report from Workshop Thursday:
Be proud. Ann Roth addressed the commissioners today about the importance of including a PIC person on the committee to tackle the Vision Plan. Siekmann called PIC (Public Interest Committee) “watchdogs” and questioned if PIC had changed. Ann was not intimidated, held her ground and said that PIC is continuing to be the watchdog, making sure the commission makes it a priority this year but, in addition, PIC wants to be a partner in making it happen.
Jack compared the cost of Beach renourishment to Buffalo, New York where the cost of snow removal was included in their taxes. While it is a good analogy, it lent some needed levity to the discussion. PIC’s presence was acknowledged.
Beverly Shapiro
Longboat Key
To: Beverly Shapiro; Judy Achre; Ed Adams; Dick Antoine; Gaele Barthold; Ben Feole; Chuck Fuller; Scott Hase; Tom Klein; Len Landau; Jack McMahon; Dick Pelton, et al.
The following is copied directly from the PIC Web site. Please note you refer to PIC as a “civic watchdog:”
“Welcome to the Longboat Key Public Interest Committee. The Longboat Key Public Interest Committee (PIC) is a civic watchdog organization dedicated to promoting good local government, encouraging fiscal responsibility, and protecting the environment. We are advocates for homeowners and taxpayers, looking out for your interests whether you are here full or part time. PIC is non-profit and non-partisan, and gives no money to any candidate or cause.”
Bob Siekmann, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Bob Siekmann
Bob, in the past PIC has never said anything about beach renouirishment if I recall correctly.
“Jack compared the cost of Beach renourishment to Buffalo, New York where the cost of snow removal was included in their taxes. While it is a good analogy, it lent some needed levity to the discussion.”
I wonder if PIC reads the papers or actually does anything except back developer candidates. Does PIC not know that we are looking at inlet management as a possible means of reducing the spiraling costs of throwing sand on the beach, only to have more than half wash away in less than four years (if we believe the last report by CP&E)?
If seems that PIC may well be an acronym for People with Impaired Cognition. PIC may be the single worst advocate for the upcoming beach bond if fools such as “Jack” try to tell taxpayers that they should just get use to throwing wads of tax dollars at the Gulf of Mexico.
I have advocated for the past seven years that we try to reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars we waste on endlessly renourishing the beach. One would think that PIC would have been my ally for all that time. Instead not a word from them in all that time about saving tax dollars. Hmmmm.
How does PIC claim that they are in any way representative of the greater community when PIC policy is formulated solely by the board who are screaming advocated for the chamber and the Key Club and I guess by extension developers in general?
The question seems to be not that PIC is a watchdog, but rather if PIC is a blind watchdog. No one can accuse PIC of being timely or on top of the issues.
Sadly, at the end of the day PIC has been hijacked by the chamber and is controlled by the likes of Ron Johnson, who has never been known for his intellect. Most people acknowledge that he was the most ineffective mayor in recent times. Do we wonder why PIC is the way it is?
Gene Jaleski, commissioner
Longboat Key
Resignation
To: Mayor George Spoll, Town Manager Bruce St. Denis
Through my doing I have exposed several good citizens to criticism they did not deserve. I extend my sincere apologies to those individuals and organizations. To the commission I apologize for my error.
Further, those around me have known for some time that I was not happy in my capacity on the town commission. I had informed several people that I did not intend to seek re-election. I have come to realize that many of the reasons I ran for the commission have become unobtainable. I feel that I need to resign from the commission, effective today.
It has been a privilege to serve on the commission.
Gene Jaleski, commissioner
Longboat Key
Filling the void
To: Mayor George Spoll and Commissioners
A couple of you have asked about the provisions of the Town’s Charter with respect to filling a vacancy on the Town Commission. Article II Section 8 states:
Vacancies: Vacancies in the town commission shall be filled by the town commission, with any person so appointed to be a qualified elector from the district of the vacated commissioner, to serve until the next general municipal election. At the next general municipal election, the vacancy shall be filled by election; the person elected in such election to serve the remaining unexpired term of the town commissioner whose vacant office is being filled. If a vacancy is not filled by the town commission within thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs, a special election shall be held within ninety (90) days after such a vacancy occurs; and the person so elected shall serve the remaining unexpired term.
The 30-day provision began on May 25, 2010, as Commissioner Jaleski made it effective immediately.
If you have any questions about this or any other matter, please contact me.
David Persson, town attorney
Longboat Key
Follow the money!
To: Mayor George Spoll
It’s budget time again! Cut expenses…cut taxes…cut…cut…cut. It seems we go through this process every year. New commissioner(s) have new ideas in cutting spending. It’s not a bad process…in fact it’s a good one. Have the town manager review every expenditure compared to last year and justify additional expenditures.
Our Town manager has been doing this for 14 years. He must be doing something right otherwise he would have been replaced.
I had the pleasure of attending the Citizens Academy of Government workshops and met and listened to all the department heads. They know what there doing and credit goes to the Town Manager for recruiting, and retaining them. Cutting salaries or benefits is not the answer. These people care about the services and needs of the residents, even though they may not live on Longboat Key.
Longboat Key taxes only represent about 12 percent of total real estate taxes. That’s probably less than Homeowners fees paid if you live in Bay Isles. About 35 percent of your taxes are paid to the County for hospital, sheriff, courts, jails, etc. A whopping 53 percent is paid for schools. If we were our own county, we could send every school age child to private school, including college, and have money left over. As someone told me the other day: “Longboat Key is the goose that laid the golden egg for Sarasota.”
If our commission really wants to make an impact on reducing our taxes, they should get more involved in The Sarasota County budget process, the other 88 percent of our tax money. Do we? Can we? As someone else once said, “Follow the Money!”
Ray Rajewski
Longboat Key
We chose Longboat because of what it was
To: Town Attorney David Persson
You requested a response to a most interesting question—which I will try to paraphrase. Which was, basically—“what do you want to be when you grow up?” I personally think that you could have used the word “if” instead of “when.” But, I will try to answer it from my perspective. BJ Webb suggested that we use the medium of this inter-office email to do so. I trust that Donna Chipman will route this to Monica Simpson and Webb and any others who might be interested.
I suggest that we have already “grown up,” and that Longboat Key is what we chose—not as to what we can make it into—but what it was about Longboat Key when we originally opted to make it our home.
Personally, deep down, we (Temi and I) are Bostonians. We always lived by the Latin expression “Quod cupio, mecum erat.” Liberal translation—“What we want, we already had.”
We chose Longboat Key because of what it was—not want we wanted to change it into.
We are personally aghast at the current attempt to change this community into something different from what it was. And, moreover, to attempt to change our codes in order to accommodate these changes. I suppose some of us still suffer from the “Walter Mitty” image. A few of our residents think that now, since most of us have a surfeit of spare time on our hands, we can become the Master Builders and recreate our newer and better version of “God’s Waiting Room.” Speaking for myself, I have neither such desire nor inclination nor ambition.
If there is a corollary—it is exemplified by the status of Temi and my marriage. It has flourished for over sixty-years because we were happy with the choice we made back in the good old days, and we are still enjoying the benefits and offspring from this union. Are we right? Are we worried about missing out on something? I, speaking for myself, trust not.
It is anathema for me to look at an element in our town currently tripping over itself in attempting to invite a possibly promised new concept onto our island. Unfortunately, in making our island more comfortable for this possibly promised new concept it is also opening the door to other, less attractive, real development that can now slip in under cover of the relaxed zoning. In doing so I feel that it will be denigrating the value of its current residents’ homes directly proportional to the added value it will be bestowing on the now un-buildable land of a developer. It is a common law of nature—for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Please understand, David, I speak for myself and obviously not necessarily for the vocal opposition that seems to have an obvious or latent pecuniary interest in the future of this island of ours. But, deep down, if the total residents were polled, I sincerely feel that a majority of our residents and taxpayers would espouse my feelings in this matter. I feel that the current situation and the self-deprecating mood as to the decline of our community is a passing fad that will be blown away with the end of the current recessionary phase that our world is experiencing. Then people will continue to be drawn to Longboat Key because of what it is; not because of what, to so far unconvinced me, some persuasive salesman will promise to maybe change it into.
Let us not now tear down our walls and fill in our moats—there still are tigers out there. But, also, I confess to possibly being paranoid.
Bradford Saivetz
Longboat Key
Longboat Pass and beach sand solution
Finally, a comprehensive solution to the beach erosion on the north end (dredging the pass and using the sand for the beach). And even better—it’s a long-term solution! Kudos to Mr. Jaleski and St. Denis. There is one concern that needs to be addressed. An enormous amount of sand spit has accumulated near the bridge, reaching towards the shore and narrowing the entrance to the lagoon. It is choking off the water circulation and navigation is next to impossible at low tide.
What will be the impact of dredging the pass on this sand accumulation problem? The situation became much worse in 1997 after the pass was dredged. We can’t emphasize how bad this is getting and the impact on property values and the quality of this area. The town should take advantage of the sand that’s available here and also restore this area for the residents and the boaters. This sand spit should be included in the pass dredging project, now and for the long term.
A response from Mr. Jaleski and St. Denis would be much appreciated from the north end residents. Thanks for your efforts!
The Mckinnons
Longboat Key
Turtle nests in front of Islander
To: Public Works Project Manager James Linkogle
I am writing to let you know that we had a nest laid in front of the Islander property, just south of the new groins.
In addition, I wanted to let you know that we are now marking our nests this season with three smaller (approx. 10-inch) yellow triangulation stakes (placed in the dunes or near the dune line landward of the nest) in addition to the regular four (four-foot) yellow nest marking stakes. If you wouldn’t mind letting your town staff know about these in case they get any calls about them or have questions about them being on the beach.
Kristen Mazzarella, senior biologist
Mote Marine
Longboat Key News column
To: Peter O’Connor
Was able to read your column yesterday highlighting our department and wanted to thank you for the very nice words and story.
In truth—and you understand this better than anyone else—the success of any Public Works department is due in a small part to the leadership but the true work is performed by those individuals that typically remain behind the scenes. Your article brought to light that fact, and I hope your readers appreciate and recognize that our work is a collaborative process at all levels in the department.
Your unique background and experience is one of the reasons that allowed you to get that message across to your readers. I have no doubt they now have a better understanding of what town employees do every day and how and why they are an essential part of the town government. Thanks again.
Juan Florensa, director of Public Works
Longboat Key
Larger truck legislation
To: Town Commission
My name is Paul Schipul and I am the new State Director for the Florida Coalition for Safe Highways, which is part of a national organization called the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks. I wanted to meet with you about a heavy commercial truck weight increase that the Florida Legislature recently voted. This weight increase will take effect on local roads.
I think this will affect Longboat Key’s safety and its bottom line in terms of infrastructure damage and I would like to brief you for a few minutes on what my organization is doing to oppose this troubling new weight increase. Please let me know if you would be able to meet with me for a few minutes on Wednesday May 26. Thanks and I hope to speak with you shortly.
Paul Schipul, state director
Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
To: Mr. Paul Schipul,
Thank you for the invitation, but I am not interested in meeting with you on this issue; “Longboat Key” and “Bigger Trucks” are words rarely used in the same sentence.
Bob Siekmann, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Siekmann
Fair enough. Thank you for your response.
Paul Schipul, state director
Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
MPO Workshop
To: Mark Kauffman
Mark…You’ve probably attended many of these, but I found it helpful because they identified any and all “solutions”. We should be seeing the minutes soon as well as FDOT and local staffs’ reaction. The emphasis was on what can be done now.
I met Susan Montgomery of the City of Sarasota and reminded her of your ideas, particularly about adding parking spaces to replace the angled spaces, which should be removed on the way to Lido. I told her I’d encourage you to get your ideas to her. Her email is susan.montgomery@sarasotagov.com I’d suggest you copy me at dbrenner@longboatkey.org
I’ll copy you on anything I get. The follow up meeting is in about six weeks. The new Sarasota Mayor was there and obviously wants to see something happen.
Dave Brenner, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Sarasota Mayor Susan Montgomery
Per David Brenner he asked that I share my thoughts with you. I travel St. Armands once to twice daily, seven days a week, which equates to about 500 trips/year times 23 years living on Longboat Key…so I have some observations. In medicine we say, “Listen to the patient, they are trying to tell you what is wrong with them.”
Same here.
I was distressed that the MPO meeting was to have “all affected parties” attend, yet landowners at St. Armands were not notified of the meeting. It would have been proper to do so.
I have had several meetings with the chief engineer of the City of Sarasota (past and present), which led to several onsite walking sessions and discussions. Little was accomplished immediately.
My biggest push was for what has recently occurred (after 8 years of my requesting). That is…when entering the circle from the city the right lane must go to Longboat Key and the left lane may go there. To go to Lido the left lane must be used. (Likewise at exiting Lido.)
This finally occurred and has significantly reduced the traffic at that intersection. While there is an occasional car that enters on the right lane (to Longboat Key) and has to migrate to the left lane, it is far less dangerous than in the past when many cars used the right lane with intent to go to Lido (prior to this designation). With proper signage and experience this will only improve. Great improvement!
My second request was to paint parking spaces two blocks from the circle going to Longboat Key. In all spokes but this one, parking was allowed for two blocks from the circle. This also was accomplished and increased the parking.
The recent neck outs and cross walks that were installed by the bid has helped the traffic and safety also. Yet there is a lot that can be done.
Below are my remaining suggestions, many accomplished with little effort or cost.
1. The traffic situation leaving Longboat Key arose acutely and precipitously when the angled parking arrived on the segment, which goes to Lido. Since, when a car wants to back out, all traffic must stop, this forces a back up of cars into the circle and obstructs traffic flow. This angled parking reduced the traffic lanes from two traffic lanes to a single lane. When there were two lanes, cars could continue to flow past the parking car.
The answer is then to either return to parallel parking (which allows cars to drive around the exiting or parking car because there is now two lanes of traffic going to Lido), or, remove the parallel parking adjacent to the stores which would keep the angled parking but replace the original two lanes of traffic.
Another answer is to make the islands narrower, which would allow the angled parking to move in and therefore allow two traffic lanes to Lido.
I realize that there would be a loss of parking but this could be made up by the next few items as well as the new parking described above going to Longboat Key. The angled parking installed was to increase the parking, but it played havoc with auto mobility.
2. Adams Avenue (front of fire station and church) has underutilized parking. Parking is only allowed on the west side of this street (as there is insufficient room for parking on both sides and maintain two-way traffic). The west side available parking is shrunk by the inability to park in front of the fire station, the alley and the entrance to the parking lot. It allows about 4 to 5 cars to park. If the parking was shifted to the East side of the street, then the only parking loss would be in front of Church drop off circle. There would be a pickup of 6 spaces by this shift, and there would be sufficient turning radius for the fire vehicles.
3. Parking could be increased by eliminating the space now painted between every other car. In the city, this wasted space is no longer utilized, but it is retained in St Armands. I think we could pick up one space for each line of parking, 4 per spoke, which equates to 20 additional parking spaces. This plus the Adams Street gain would offset losing spaces going out to Lido.
4. Additionally, installing two single level decks on both major parking lots would go a long way to decreasing traffic and providing the area with the parking that it deserves. The BID will participate in funding this, as have the landowners participated in the past parking lot acquisition. Martin Rappaport (head of BID) has been active in this regard. By accomplishing this, item #5 could be possible.
5. Elimination of parking along the inner circle (after decks are installed). This would aid mobility by adding another lane of traffic, and decrease the insane attempt by pedestrians attempting to leave their parking spaces, opening up car doors to exit while cars try to pass, then traversing two lanes of traffic to get to the stores. Adding several hundred spaces in a deck would stifle the business owners lamenting inadequate parking and the loss of these insufficient and dangerous spaces.
6. Pedestrian traffic lights are a mandatory addition to solving the traffic problem. I do believe when the BID constructed the new crosswalks they installed conduits anticipating future installation of the lights. Pedestrians would not mind a short wait at each crossing as they are out for a stroll and lingering at the intersection would not be distasteful.
Each light should be timed to turn green (when activated by a pedestrian) after a 45-plus-or-minus-second delay, to allow bunching of the pedestrian activity. Significant delays are caused by the slow crossing of a few; then when their trek is completed, another starts in same or opposite direction. The pedestrians should again collect at the medium (where there is sufficient room to safely gather), activate another light, and again allow bunching of those desirous of crossing, then safely complete their crossing.
I have personally witnessed such pedestrian controls elsewhere and it was very effective.
This would produce a significant safety factor in addition to increasing auto mobility.
7. The light at City Island should be switched by a timer to a blinking red (for City Island) and blinking yellow (for Longboat Key) after 7 p.m. It is insane to stop at this light late at night when there is nil traffic at City Island.
8. Consideration (I am not certain this would be effective) would be for a sign to “merge” for those cars on the Circle (having backed up waiting for an opportunity to proceed to Lido) to allow the cars leaving Longboat to enter the circle. Since there are practically no cars that leave Longboat Key and go to Lido via the circle (most immediately bypass as they leave the bridge), this would not slow down the cars going to Lido, and allows the Longboat Key cars to exit by entering the circle itself.
I would be more than happy to make myself available to personally discuss any of these suggestions at your convenience.
Mark Kauffman
Longboat Key
Follow up MPO traffic meeting
To: Town Commission
As a follow-up to a discussion at the Jan. 25, 2010, MPO Board meeting regarding the US 41/Tamiami Trail corridor, a meeting was held on March 10, 2010, to bring together all interested parties, including the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), to discuss the possibilities of including bicycle as well as beautification enhancements and accessibility along the US41/ Tamiami Trail corridor in the North Sarasota/South Manatee County area. FDOT staff agreed to review all information collected at this meeting and reconvene to discuss their findings.
A follow-up meeting has now been scheduled for Friday, May 28 beginning at 9:30 a.m. This meeting will take place at The USF Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail (Building “D”) Sarasota. Parking is permitted in Green Lots 3 and 4.
Again, to ensure that all interests and ideas are included in the discussion, we would ask that you or your designee as well as pertinent staff make every effort to attend this important discussion. Please respond to this email to confirm your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you at this meeting and your participation in this important discussion. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Robert M. Herrington, planning manager
Sarasota/Manatee MPO
To: Robert Herrington
Thanks for the alert on the oil situation. What a sad state of affairs. There is comfort in knowing there is a plan that will be put in place.
Andy Fetzek
Sarasota
Sarasota Bay Watch requests support
To: Mayor George Spoll
As President of Sarasota Bay Watch I would like to request a letter of support from the Town of Longboat Key for a Scallop Restoration Grant Proposal we are applying for. A sample letter is attached that explains the purpose of the grant. Thank you for the continuing support the Town has provided Sarasota Bay Watch.
Rusty Chinnis, president, Sarasota Bay Watch
Longboat Key
Oil cleanup plan
To: Town Manager Bruce St. Denis
Thought you should see this as the plan includes our area. Pay particular attention to the chart showing Longboat Pass.
Bob Siekmann, commissioner
Longboat Key
Oil booming for Longboat Key inlets
To: Town Commission
It appears that the Coast Guard’s multi-state strategy for addressing floating oil at inlets is to use booms to divert the oil to collection points in and just outside the inlet.
These are web locations from the Coast Guard Plan to control oil at both the Longboat and New Pass inlets. Note that the strategy is to divert oil to sandy beach or seawall locations on both the Gulf and Bay sides of the inlets for collection.
We are discussing implications of this strategy with both the State FDEP and AshBritt.
There will be an agenda item to address the cost of developing a local plan for Longboat Key on the May 20 agenda. The idea behind doing a town specific plan would be to identify the best strategies for the town and then push to get them adopted into the Unified Command and County response plans.
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/STPACP/Documents/PDF/TIPS/v3_longboat_pass.pdf
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/STPACP/Documents/PDF/TIPS/v3_new_pass_sarasota.pdf
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
Key code changes sets bad precedent
To: Town Commission
With another vote on this critical issue scheduled possibly tomorrow, I can only add to my previous comments of April 22nd, that it is even more imperative now that you and your colleagues stop this project before it changes the nature of Longboat Key irreparably.
I am disappointed in the commission’s decision even to move the measure forward, and can only hope more thoughtful discussion and decisions will arise from tomorrow’s meetings. I believe that approving this project with its significant zoning changes dictated by the developer will set a terrible precedent, leaving the town open to proposals for similar projects up and down the Key, and endless litigation if those projects are proposed but denied by the town, after the Key Club expansion has been permitted as designed.
Barbara Rowe
Longboat Key
Thank you for your service
To: Morton Siegler
On behalf of the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board, I wish to extend our appreciation and thanks for your dedicated service to the town as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board.
With your knowledge of the engineering and construction industry, the Planning and Zoning Board had the input, which allowed them to make informed decisions on the various applications that were before the board. Again, thank you for your participation, and best wishes in your future endeavors.
BJ Webb, chairman
Planning and Zoning Board
Enjoy golf column
To: Hal Lenobel
I enjoy your column on the rules of golf (I have become an avid reader of the Longboat Key News since our two week vacation at SeaHorse Beach Resort on the key in March).
Here’s a one-liner (definition of golf) that you may want to include at the end of your column sometime: “Golf is a game in which the ball lies poorly, but the player well.”
Richard W. Murphy
Silver Spring, Md.
New trees looking good
To: Town Planner Steve Shield
The new trees are looking good! Glad to see that some of them are making their way to the North end!
Pat Zunz, Planning and Zoning Board
Longboat Key
Do you have the notes?
To: Commissioner Hal Lenobel
I am writing to you to ask for your assistance in establishing the history of North Shore Country Club. About a dozen years ago, you wrote a short biography of Tillinghast in the club history in which you stated that he was hired by the club in September of 1916 to develop the golf course. The piece stated that this information was “condensed from an article in Golf Digest magazine.”
Could I trouble you for any notes that you may have on this and also for a copy of this article if you still have it? It would be greatly appreciated. As you may have heard, Donald Zucker recently purchased the club and he is spending a great deal of time and effort to return the club to it’s former glory, and establishing the provenance of the club is all part of this process. I am undertaking this work for Mr. Zucker.
Mark Hissey
Hissey Golf Consultants
To: Mark Hissey
I am very sorry, but I no longer have anything that might help you. I have written several hundred articles relating to golf over the past 20 years and have little to show for it. I am aware of the sale of North Shore and I do hope that the course is maintained properly. It is deserving of that.
Hal Lenobel, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Hal Lenobel
Thank you very much. I’ll keep plugging away at it!
Mark Hissey
Longboat Key
Town Manager talks oil spill
To: Mr. Jewett
My name is Bruce St. Denis and I am the town manager of Longboat Key and Commissioner Dave Brenner has asked me to update you on the status of the town’s actions regarding the Deepwater Horizon incident.
The town coordinates our efforts with both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. They in turn are monitoring the State of Florida EOC.
I have attached the latest Situation Report from the Manatee County EOC to this email.
The town has notified our Debris Management Contractor, AshBritt, to be on stand-by for this incident. They are monitoring at the State and Federal levels and continue to provide us with periodic reports.
The town has not taken any action towards a specific response because we do not know if and how we will be affected.
Once we know the nature of damages that may impact us we will put preventative measures in place.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for your interests and for sending the report on the early stages of the incident.
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
A Pandora’s box of lawsuits
To: Town Commission
The Board’s ‘ratification’ of the decisions made earlier in the long, ongoing saga of the Longboat Key Club’s requests for variances, change of zoning, and modification of the club’s agreements with its members by a 4-3 vote has opened what is likely to be a Pandora’s box of lawsuits.
It is strongly suggested that to avoid the probability of those potential lawsuits that could result in substantial claims against the town, those Board members approving the variances, zoning changes drafted by the club, and changes inducing breaches of the contracts between members and the club, the Board should schedule another meeting and reverse that decision.
Those members voting for approval could be exposing themselves to personal liability of the substantial nature-by both the membership of the club and the taxpayers of the town. And it is highly unlikely that the Board’s bonding company will defend their actions when one considers the already documented and voluminous acts supporting the likely claims in such potential lawsuits.
Not to be forgotten in this entire charade, remember the Colony and do not disregard the likelihood of a suit by the Longboat Key Club if the courts reverse the decision reached by those member so the Board so friendly to the club management. As in the Colony case, the longer this is delayed, the more damages are likely to be claimed by the club.
Francis Robinson
Longboat Key
One copy of e-mail, please
To: Town Clerk Trish Granger
Is there some way for the commission to receive just one copy of e-mails generate outside the town’s e-mail system?
For instance today I received duplicate sets of pictures of the tennis center and duplicates of a commentary on the stock market among others.
Also can we begin producing searchable PDF files of as much of the agenda supporting materials as possible? I realize that some of the supporting material comes to the town in printer format. All electronic information is readily converted into searchable PDFs faster and less expensively than making hard copies.
Having a searchable agenda is a great addition to our web site. I hope we will soon expand this type of access to more and more of the town’s business.
Gene Jaleski, commissioner
Longboat Key
Longboat Pass talks
To: Town Commission
The proposal that I presented to the Town Commission at the May 5 Workshop accomplished 2 things that I thought were critical to the town’s Beach Program.
1. Continued location of Longboat Pass within the authorized alignment
2. Ability of Longboat Key and Manatee County to take responsibility for dredging Longboat Pass in the future on an on-going basis in order to maintain navigability and provide a consistent sand source.
In order to accomplish those it appeared that we needed to enter into the proposed agreement.
At the May 10 WCIND Board Meeting Manatee County may make a proposal that could accomplish both without the Corp of Engineers and WCIND taking the lead.
This could result in a more in-depth discussion than I would otherwise have anticipated. I hope we will still see some of you there. Let me know if you have any questions.
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
Comp Plan needs fix
To: Town Manager Bruce St. Denis
Bruce…I believe the Vision Plan is on the agenda. Would you add as part of that agenda item the need for revision to the Comprehensive Plan? During the recent hearings involving the code modification ordinance, some suggested the Comprehensive Plan needed some re-working. Since it and the Vision Plan are intertwined in many respects, it seems to me we should proceed with changing them in tandem.
Dave Brenner, commissioner
Longboat Key
Possible detriment
To: Mayor George Spoll
Special concessions and massive expansions are being requested mainly to enhance the bottom line of a business venture to the possible detriment of many of the people on the Key. The spaces we have become so accustomed to and take for granted should be preserved at all costs, but they are about to be occupied by a series of tall buildings, closing off views and Gulf breezes and imposing large shadows on neighbors. For comparison look at how Downtown Sarasota has been enclosed and filled-in.
Our current code has served us well and should not be altered solely for the benefit of a club, which is only part of our town. It should not be the privilege of the club to wrap the southern tip of our key with tall buildings as they have done on the Gulf side, to say nothing about the sea of cars we will all have to contend with.
Surely a compromise with fewer buildings and reduced height should be considered, perhaps mandated. Our commissioners are meant to serve all residents. Thank you for your attention to this.
Harriett Barber
Longboat Key
Don’t be absurd
To: Longboat residents
Longboat Key has lots of rules and regulations; some would say many too many. For the town to deliberately bend, twist and break these rules in order to appease yet another developer (the Key Club) is absurd. To have the commission “clarifying” rules for the benefit of development is even more absurd. To have the commission vote for new rules when even the town attorney questions the validity of their actions is beyond comprehension!
What happened to the vision plan and the wishes of many/most of the town’s interested taxpayers? We all need to step back from this discussion; take a hard look from afar; and ask ourselves “what is really happening here.”
Longboat now has a Town Commission that is willing to spend taxpayer’s money on protracted and expensive legal actions in order to benefit developers while reducing spending for public safety (a fire marshal) and potentially placing taxpayers at increased risk.
Again I must ask, “What is happening here?”
We need to ask, “What is driving the commission’s priorities?” Because I am certainly confused.
Rosemary Dilgard
Longboat Key
Consider the following
To: Town Commission
Please consider the following in making your decisions regarding the subjects noted below. Having spent many years in Massachusetts, I am very familiar with roundabouts, and I am 100 percent opposed to current proposals to convert Sarasota intersections to roundabouts. The basic theory of a roundabout is to maintain traffic flow.
The automatic byproduct of doing so is to severely impede pedestrian traffic and reduce safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Please do all you can to influence Sarasota to abandon the concept of roundabouts, particularly where Tamiami Trail intersects with Gulf Stream, Bayfront and Fruitville.
Regarding the Longboat Key Club Resort proposed improvements, while I am in favor of the Resort making some improvements, I am totally opposed to the planned scale and to changing code without public approval (vote) of such a major step. Further, if the Resort really believed that the proposed improvements would lead to increased tourism, it would first improve the existing amenities, then build the hotel…and last, create a significant increase in the number of condos. If the improved amenities prove their predicted increase in tourist business, the evidence might support the potential value in additional condo units. If not, there is little reason to approve such a large-scale increase in island units. Maximizing the Resort’s cash flow and speeding their ROI should not govern Longboat Key’s decisions.
Ralph Cohen
Longboat Key
Town financial planning
To: Town Manager Bruce St. Denis
Bruce…As you know I’ve spent a lot of time recently with Tom Kelley going over the financial state of the town in preparation for the next set of budget discussions. It seems to me if he could prepare in summary the expense areas we’ve reviewed and some conclusions reached, it would be useful to the commissioners as we proceed.
I know you’d like more specificity on what the commissioners expect by way of a budget and this might expedite that effort at the upcoming workshop.
Dave Brenner, commissioner
Longboat Key
Furen on amendments to town zoning code
To: Town Attorney David Persson
As you are aware, Key Club’s stated justification for this proposed amendment is to eliminate the non-conformity status of nonresidential development in the GPD and the PD that was created when the prior 5 percent cap on commercial development was changed to a 5 percent cap on nonresidential development as part of the tightening of the town’s planned unit development regulations during the early 1980s. Key Club has argued that this non-conformity status makes refinancing of the nonresidential development in the GPD and PD difficult and problematical.
In order to fairly address the present non-conformity issue with respect to existing nonresidential development without creating the potential for massive expansions of nonresidential developments within the GPD and PD, we would suggest that the proposed amendment to Section 158.071(A)(2) contained in Section 4 of the proposed ordinance be revised as set forth in the attachment to this email.
Michael J. Furen, Esq.
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A.
Attorney for IPOC
Sarasota
Budget help
To: Town Commission
The May 5, 2010 Special Budget Workshop agenda includes a 23 page report by department showing the last complete (08-09) actual cost data, 57 percent of the current fiscal year, plus this year’s budget. The format is similar to the “green bar” reports, but in a new, easier to handle format. Enterprise Fund data, which is an integral part of the budgeting process, is not included, nor is a summary by department or cost code.
In addition to targeting unusual upcoming circumstances, we feel budget development should include review of more than one year of actual data. Accordingly, we have provided the attached Excel file that includes the last three years of actual data, the current year’s budget, current year to date (YTD) totals, and a column to insert the 10-11 proposed budget. (See Landau’s and Younger’s document in its entirety at lbknews.com).
While YTD costs are interesting, many costs do not track to budget on a monthly basis, and forecasting current year actual expenditures by extending YTD results can be misleading.
The attachment reduces the town provided report to 10 easy to read, easy to understand printed pages including Enterprise Funds, yet provides more data, plus the option of viewing the data in multiple formats: “by department by code”, “by code by department,” “by department,” and by expense “code.” Other tabs focus on personnel costs, non-personnel costs, and a cost code index. All of the actual data represents audited results provided by the Finance Department. All tabs are set to print in black and white.
The attachment is being provided to help facilitate your understanding and participation in the budget planning process. If you find it helpful, we encourage you to request such a report from Finance on an ongoing basis. While we have thoughts on how to approach the budgeting process, we are not currently advising any specific actions, other than to urge you to take the time to review and understand the attachment to help you serve our community in the budgeting process. As always, if you have any questions or if we can be of any further help, do not hesitate to contact us.
Lenny Landau and Phill Younger
Longboat Key
Thanks to commission
To: Town Commission
Thank you to those of you who voted to allow me to continue to serve the town on the Planning and Zoning Board. I also greatly appreciate your votes to return George Symanski to the Board.
BJ Webb
Planning & Zoning Board
Do not respond
To: Town Commission
Just a quick reminder that you should not respond to Commissioner Jaleski on the e-mails forwarded to remain in compliance with Sunshine Law requirements. They were sent for informational purposes and two (or more) Commissioners cannot debate an issue through the e-mail system. Thank you for your cooperation.
Trish Granger, town clerk
Longboat Key
Say it ain’t so, Lynn
To: Commissioner Lynn Larson
First of all, I applaud your effort to push for a new Recreation Center. What concerns me is the proposal that the Longboat Key Club is willing to donate funds on the condition of approval for its project in the future!
It’s one thing to supply coffee and pastries for supporters of their plan, but to ”entice” your approval with a donation is something else!
As a youngster once said to Shoeless Joe Jackson accused of throwing a World Series, “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”
Ray Rajewski
Longboat Key
To: Ray Rajewski
Thank you for your letter. You are correct; it is not appropriate for people or businesses to give on the condition of something being approved. There is no enticement here. I am interested in raising funds as a private citizen of the Key. Anyone could donate; the point is to create a nonprofit to accept donations for the purpose of building a Town Community Center of which we could all be proud and use.
We contribute greatly to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in our tax bills; perhaps they could contribute back so that the facility could be used for health education.
Also, there are many foundations in Sarasota that fund projects with funds left by contributors who had an interest in our community. These organizations may contribute as well.
We need to look for all sources of funds voluntarily given without strings.
I was elected by citizens of the Key and will act in the best interests of all citizens of this Island. My vote is not for sale.
Lynn Larson, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Lynn Larson
Thank you for your reply. When you start to raise funds, I’ll be there.
Ray Rajewski
Longboat Key
To: Ray Rajewski
Can I count on your donation? And how about a challenge to others to match your donation? This is a serious project and can make a difference on this Key long after I’m gone but we could find ways to make it fun like challenges to others to match our efforts.
Lynn Larson, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Lynn Larson
If the Rec Center project is a go, I will donate $1,000.
Ray Rajewski
Longboat Key
Contract, anyone?
To: Commissioner Gene Jaleski
I wanted to share this proposed franchise agreement with you. This is something we discussed and wanted to see if we can schedule time next week to discuss.
Are you available Tuesday or Wednesday of next week?
Tom Scobie, director
DAS Sales
Crown Castle
To: Town Manager Bruce St Denis
This is a franchise agreement template document. Crown Castle Tower is interested in pursuing a Distributed Antenna System proposal for the town and before they commit considerable resource to the project they would like to find out about being granted a franchise for providing cell phone service if the town decides to enter into an agreement with them at some possible future date. I gather this would be similar to the agreement the town has with Comcast.
Please note that the template is generalized and applies to any CLEC/LLC, and would be entered into by the town and a specific CLEC LLC as part of a possible future contractual arrangement. It seems understandable that any such provider would want to see a clearly defined market.
Gene Jaleski, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Gene Jaleski
Kathi and I are still looking at this whole subject. While I appreciate this information we are a long way from taking this sort of detail. I will keep it for reference but at this time I am advising David that I do not need any research on agreements at this time.
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
Put Historical Society in plans
To: Town Manager Bruce St Denis
Please include the Longboat Key Historical Society, Inc. in your plans for a Community Center for Longboat Key. As you know, we have been looking for a home since we were formed in 1980. After all of these years we know what we want and need in a home. We need 2,000 to 3,000 square feet of enclosed space for a Museum and History Center. We need a meeting auditorium for at least 100 people and a parking area to accommodate cars for 100 people to attend events. We would either like to partner with other organizations like the Garden Club or stand alone and make our facilities available to other organizations and the town. I know that the people of Longboat Key have voted down taxing themselves to fund a center. We would like to proffer a request to individual donors to fund our center with the reward of offering them permanent recognition as a monument to their charitable gesture.
Please include the Longboat Key Historical Society, Inc. in any future discussions of a Community Center for Longboat Key.
Tom Mayers, Historical Society president
Longboat Key
To: President Historical Society Tom Mayers
Thank you, I know you provide a great service to the community.
Lynn Larson, commissioner
Longboat Key
To: Commissioner Lynn Larson
Keep us in mind for the future of Longboat Key. Thanks for the time you spend and for your quick reply.
Tom Mayers, Historical Society president
Longboat Key
FYI
To: Commissioner Bob Siekmann
This is a copy of an e-mail that I sent to Ed Hunzeker. I wanted you to have a copy in the event any of the Manatee Commissioners contact you about it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
Public Safety funding
To: Ed Hunzeker
Something for you to think about. I heard that you are looking to contract with the state for the law enforcement side of marine operations.
Sarasota County provides grants from their WCIND funding to pay for law enforcement and fire/rescue marine operations. Funding is based on actual time on the water.
It seems to be an appropriate funding source as it is a tax for marine related activities. It may make more sense to fund from WCIND than from your county ad-valorem.
This may be a potential funding source for all communities that provide these services.
I am sure that Jim Ley could provide you with the particulars if you have an interest.
I will answer whatever questions I can.
Bruce St. Denis, town manager
Longboat Key
Ban offshore oil drilling
To: Town Commission
I am not a resident of Longboat Key but am a frequent visitor for the past many years, with my husband and son. I noticed your message on your website since I am planning another visit in June. Longboat Key and its surrounding communities are some of the most beautiful areas of Florida I have visited with remarkably clear waters, striking beaches and lovely landscapes.
My family and I are avid outdoor enthusiasts and love to kayak, hike, bike and enjoy the beaches in your area as well as our many visits to Mote Marine Aquarium. I have lived in Florida since I was 8 years old, in 1977.
I have been opposed to offshore drilling since I was old enough to know about it and was gravely disappointed to hear the Obama administration’s recent intent to lift the ban on drilling off our coasts.
The recent incident in the Gulf is reason enough to keep the ban on offshore drilling.
Florida has little left of its original splendor, given the development over the past 30 years, with wetlands depleted, strip malls erected, overpopulation and generally just too much building and too little concern for sensitive environmental areas or consequences of overdevelopment. I would urge your town to fight against this decision to lift the ban on offshore drilling, as the recent oil spill is simply one of many examples of the reality of offshore drilling and the reality of what will happen to the Florida coastlines, marine life, wildlife and the remaining beauty that makes our state so wonderful. For those who are only able to see the dollars and not the purpose in preservation – the state’s huge tourism revenue will decline if the beaches, one of the main attractions, are covered in oil and tar, with no capacity for enjoyment.
President Obama’s campaign promises and his stance on environmental protection appear to be fading rapidly. Allowing this path to continue will mean further environmental destruction, much of which will likely be irreversible.
I will be sending this letter to all of the legislators listed on your web page as well. Thank you for listening.
Colleen Murphy
Winter Springs, Fla.
Longboat misses the boat
To: Editor
I have just completed a month stay; anchored in Longboat Key waters, north of the Sarasota Bay. What I witnessed every day on the water makes me wonder how some people can get behind the wheel of a boat.
Longboat Key Marine Patrol should be using 2-3 pads of tickets a day. Boaters are generally doing whatever they want, when they want, with total disregard to posted markers. And to make matters worse the ones who disobey the laws the most are residents and charter captains who frequent the area.
During my stay I saw Manatees running for their lives in Manatee Protected Zones, so a boater could go a little faster to get nowhere. There is no doubt that from Longboat Key Pass to the top of Sarasota Bay should be a Minimum Speed and Wake Zone. Longboat Key Marine Patrol should be expanded during weekends; how they cannot be a revenue generator for Longboat Key would be a mystery to me. A final word to my fellow boaters: Follow the posted signage markers and slow down-. You live in one of the prettiest parts of Florida. Enjoy it and be responsible for your wake.
Richard Volker
Tierra Verde, Fla.
Leave zoning intact
To: Commissioner Gene Jaleski
I am a resident of Lighthouse Point on Longboat Key and am writing to you to appeal to you and the other commissioners to leave our present zoning intact. I, like many others who have desired to make changes to our property, have had to follow the Town Code to the letter. Why should the Key Club be treated so differently?
I find this entire development proposal to permanently change the key very alarming, and a departure from the unspoken contract all buyers here understood when we made our purchases; in fact it is why I made Longboat my choice as opposed to other areas.
Please consider voting against this massive project and protect those of us who will be permanently affected by the proposed changes.
Robert Martin
Longboat Key
Move forward without delay
To: Town Commission
I have been a part-time resident on the Key since 1979, owning three different units, two on north end and one on south end.
I have been a member of the club for over 25 years. We have held numerous events there over the years, using dining options, golf course, and spa and recommending to others as the place to stay on the Key!
I urge you to move forward with the proposed renovation of the Longboat Key Club with no further delay as it is certainly much needed and will help the economic situation in the area in so many positive ways immediately and well into the future.
Carol J. Barnett
Lakeland, Fla.
St. Armands draws tourists
To: Town Commission
I would like to ask you, as our representative, not the realtors or developers, but us, the residents of Longboat Key, who invested perhaps our life savings to buy our home here on this peaceful little Island, do not change the zoning.
Nobody has the right to take away for profit, what we were assured was ours, and that includes our safety and our serene island and our views. If you give Loeb what they are asking, these people who are so arrogant and have let the beautiful golf courses (in the times of Arvida) deteriorate beyond recognition, but still raise dues, then you must provide four lanes for traffic all the way to Route 41 to ensure timely and safe passage for an ambulance, additional fire trucks if needed or in the event of a hurricane. You were here long before Loeb, we do not need them, St. Armands and Sarasota will draw all the tourists you need when the economy improves.
V. Derobertis
Longboat Key
Revitalize Longboat Key before it’s too late
To: Town Commission
It is so disheartening to see that this application process is still dragging on, and that the future of Longboat Key’s viability is seemingly being railroaded by Bob White. His repeated misrepresentation of information and use of scare tactics to keep “his Longboat Key” the way it was 30 years ago has gone on long enough. If he has his way, property values will continue to decline, tourism will fade, and no new businesses — or developers — would dare to come here and face the battles the club has had to endure.
Who is going to clean up the mess after all of the Bob Whites are gone? Not our children. They will go elsewhere, I can assure you, and the Key will become yet another community that could have had a bright future, except for the few who were afraid of change.
My husband and I are strongly in favor of your approving the recommended code amendments. As our elected officials, I trust that you will do what’s best for the entire island and not give in to the ill-founded complaints of a few vocal obstructionists. Longboat Key should not have a “one-size-fits-all” code structure, but rather, we must take projects on a case-by-case basis, determining what code amendments will best serve the future of the entire island.
When I drive from end to end on the Key, I am deeply concerned about what will happen if the Longboat Key Club is prohibited from moving forward. More empty storerooms, shuttered restaurants, dilapidated resorts, all leading to a further decline in property values for all of us.
I implore you… please help to get the process moving forward to revitalize Longboat Key, starting with the $400 million upgrade to the club. Make Longboat the shining star of Florida’s Gulf Coast, a thriving and vital community that will attract visitors, new residents, and create new businesses — before it’s too late.
Roberta Brody
Longboat Key
Zoning code no obstacle
To: Longboat residents
The Zoning Code proved to be no obstacle for the Key Club’s plan as the Town Commission tripped over themselves to approve all the changes the club requested! Is this a great town or what?
On each of the seven provisions for which changes were requested a separate vote was taken. On each of the most significant changes the vote was 4-3 for approval, with Jaleski, Lenobel and Siekmann voting no and Spoll, Brown, Larson and Brenner voting for changes.
Despite the fact that the town attorney reiterated his previous suggestion that it was not clear that the club’s plan, or the changes to the Code, were in compliance with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, the Commission, in their haste to accommodate the club’s wishes, under the guise of “what is best for the community” prostrated themselves before the Loeb financed steamroller and ignored rather trivial things like nearly three decades of Commission actions and Code revisions. Actions designed to control growth and abundant tourism on the Key and shape the Key’s character as a haven for residents who want a tranquil lifestyle and a beautiful setting rather than the syndrome of overdevelopment that has infected so many of Florida’s beach communities.
The process now moves to the required second reading of the ordinance on May 20th. The chances for any significant change in the provisions at that hearing are very slim and I am not suggesting that residents attend this meeting, however it is necessary that as many people as possible attend the hearings on the club’s revised application when they resume in June. The tentative date for the first hearing is June 7.
While it is clear that the current Commission is predisposed to grant the club’s application for the ODP amendment that will allow their development in some form, it is not clear that they will approve the number of condominiums the club claims it needs for financing. The club has never provided any justification for the number of condos requested, which they claim they need to finance the rest of the project. The town has already indicated that they have no interest in authorizing additional condominiums on the Key except as a financing vehicle for the Hotel and its accessory facilities. Other issues which will arise during the resumed hearings will be the amount of the payment due the town in lieu of open space land, which the town has indicated amounts to some $5 million. Other issues are the phasing of the project to insure that the golf course improvements are made and that the hotel is built, not just the condominiums.
We believe that the revised zoning code is not consistent with the town’s Comprehensive Plan and we plan to file an administrative appeal with the state asking for a determination of inconsistency if the proposed changes are approved on second reading. (This is an administrative not a judicial action and will not legally delay the club’s application). If this appeal is successful, it could force the town to amend the Comprehensive Plan as well as the lead to imposition of sanctions against the town.
The club has indicated they will be filing a revised application in the near future, but it is doubtful that there will be any changes in the scale of the project.
As I pointed out in my statement to the Town Commission at yesterdays’ meeting, we have proposed two alternatives to the club’s plan. Both of these alternatives included a hotel, conference facility, spa, villas and condo/tourism units, but both were rejected by the club. The club’s assertion that we have opposed everything is simply not true.
Bob White
Islandside Property Owners Coalition president
Longboat Key
