SENSITCITY OF SARASOTA.
CITY OF SARASOTA. CITY OF SARASOTA.
CITY OF SARASOTA.
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT,
EVERYBODY. IT IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025.
I'M CALLING TO ORDER OUR REGULAR SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION
MEETING. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT YET,
IF YOU WANT TO TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES OR PUT THEM ON
SILENCE. I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY
AUDITOR AND CLERK FOR THE INVOCATION.
>>Shayla Griggs: PLEASE STAND. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE AFFIRM OUR
FAITH IN THEE. WE SEEK YOUR DIVINE STRENGTH,
WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN THE DELIBERATIONS THAT AFFECT THE
LIVES OF EACH OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH, COULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE?
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
ANY CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE DAY, MS. GRIGGS?
>>Shayla Griggs: YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
PLEASE REMOVE AGENDA ITEM 6.2 APPROVAL RE: THORING THE MAYOR
AND CITY AUDITOR EXECUTE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SARASOTA AND THE CITRUS CANNERY FOOD
PROCESSING AND ALLIED WORKERS DRIVERS WAREHOUSE AND HELP
AFFILIATED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
TEAMSTER LOCAL 173 PER THE REQUEST OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER
BULLOCK. THAT'S ALL THE CHANGES I HAVE,
MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE
THE CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE DAY?
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: SO MOVED. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SECOND.
>>Mayor Alpert: THE VICE MAYOR MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TO
THE ORDER OF THE DAY. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH SECONDED.
COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WILL VOTE. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
>> YES. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
THE CHANGES ARE APPROVED. SO, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A
PRESENTATION THIS MORNING -- >>Shayla Griggs: MAYOR, YOU ALSO
NEED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AGENDA SCHEDULE.
>>Mayor Alpert: I'M SORRY. SINCE WE APPROVED THE CHANGES.
OKAY. APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED AGENDA
SCHEDULE, COMMISSIONERS. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: SO MOVED.
>>Kyle Battie: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: VICE MAYOR MOVED
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AGENDA SCHEDULE.
COMMISSIONER BATTIE SECONDED. IF YOU WILL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS.
IS THAT YOUR VOTE? ALL RIGHT.
THEN WE CAN NOW DO THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE A LEGACY BUSINESS, AND I WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH TO COME UP AND DO THIS PRESENTATION.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU. THIS IS LEGACY BUSINESS
PROCLAMATION: WHEREAS, THE CITY OF SARASOTA LEGACY BUSINESS
PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTION OF LOCAL
LONG-STANDING BUSINESSES AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GROWTH AND
PROSPERITY OF THE CITY; AND WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 8, 2002,
MATTISON'S CITY GRILLE OPENED FOR BUSINESS AS AN UPSCALE,
EUROPEAN-STYLE OUTDOOR CAFE; AND WHEREAS, FOR 23 YEARS,
MATTISON'S CITY GRILLE HAS OPERATED AS A CHEF-OWNED LOCAL
RESTAURANT; AND WHEREAS, MATTISON'S CITY GRILLE HAS BEEN
A CITY FIXTURE AND A CONTRIBUTING ASSET TO THE
VITALITY AND PROSPERITY OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SINCE 2002.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SARASOTA, FLORIDA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY
TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING MATTISON'S CITY GRILLE AS A
LEGACY BUSINESS. MR. PAUL MATTISON, WOULD YOU
PLEASE COME DOWN AND ACCEPT THE LEGACY BUSINESS PROCLAMATION?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S HUMBLING AND AN HONOR TO BE
RECOGNIZED. IT'S BEEN A GREAT 23 YEARS.
LOVE SARASOTA. LOVE THE CITY.
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING YOU DO.
AND THOSE BEFORE YOU THAT HAVE INTERACTED WITH MANY TIMES OVER
THE YEAR PUTTING THIS RESTAURANT TOGETHER.
IT'S BEEN A WIN. IT'S BEEN A GREAT HOME-RUN FOR
US. WE LOVE BEING HERE AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO MANY, MANY MORE YEARS IN THE CITY OF SARASOTA.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY TO
SUPPORT ANYTHING, ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND EVERYONE'S IN THE
CITY, OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT MATTISON'S. FULL DISCLOSURE, I WORKED FOR
PAUL FOR 12 YEARS, PR AND MARKETING WHEN HE WAS JUST
STARTING OUT IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA.
I'M VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED FOR THIS MAN WHO IS
NOT ONLY A TALENTED AND INCREDIBLE CHEF BUT ALSO A VERY
SMART BUSINESSMAN AND A VERY, VERY KIND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR.
IT WAS ACTUALLY PAUL THORPE, MR. DOWNTOWN, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS
HIM, WAS SCHEMING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZED. HE GOT AHOLD OF PAUL MATTISON.
GOT HOLD OF ME AND OTHER FOLKS AND SAID THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO
CAN REALLY GET THIS DONE. THROUGH PAUL'S DESIGN AND
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, MANAGED TO CREATE A VERY
IMPORTANT CORNER OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA AND TURN IT INTO A
VIBRANT, WELCOMING, OPEN SPACE. ASIDE FROM C'EST LA VIE, THIS
WAS I BELIEVE ONLY THE SECOND PLACE IN DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU
ACTUALLY SAT OUTSIDE. BACK IN THE DAY, NOBODY THOUGHT
ABOUT SITTING OUTSIDE IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA.
SO MATTISON'S, HAVING OFFICIALLY HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE
BUSINESS, I ALWAYS SAY, AT LEAST A MAJOR PART OF TURNING DOWNTOWN
SARASOTA AROUND INTO THE VIBRANT PLACE THAT IT IS TODAY.
PAUL IS AN INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS OWNER AND
JUST A VERY GOOD HUMAN BEING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD I ALWAYS RECUSED MYSELF ON ANY VOTES INVOLVING
MATTISON'S EVEN THOUGH I DON'T WORK FOR HIM ANYMORE FOR OVER
EIGHT YEARS, THERE'S STILL SOMETHING THAT MAKES MATTISON'S
SUPER SPECIAL TO ME. THANK YOU, PAUL.
[ APPLAUSE ] >>Mayor Alpert: I WANT TO ADD A
QUICK REMARK. WHEN I MOVED BACK TO SARASOTA IN
2002, OF COURSE, YOU WERE ALREADY OPEN AT THAT LOCATION,
AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE TIKI TORCHES AND THE OUTDOOR
SEATING THAT I WAS LIKE THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE I WANT TO LIVE.
IT WAS VERY, VERY MAGICAL. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
COMMISSIONERS. ? Thank you. Thank
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. APPRECIATE IT.
>>Mayor Alpert: CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.
I WOULD ASK THE CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK TO READ THE PLEDGE OF
PUBLIC CONDUCT. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR
CITIZEN COMMENTS. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH. WHEN YOU SPEAK, BE SURE TO STATE
YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT.
>>Shayla Griggs: WE WILL DISAGREE BUT RESPECTFUL TO ONE
ANOTHER. DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO ISSUES.
WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN PERSONAL ATTACKS.
THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: WE HAVE MARTIN
HYDE. DAVID LOUGH, CHRIS JOHNSON.
AND SHAWN PATTEN. MR. HYDE.
>> INDEED. OBVIOUSLY, I REMAIN THAT VERY
SAME ONE. FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T
FOLLOW THESE THINGS, THERE WAS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM REMOVED FROM
TODAY'S AGENDA. DOES TELL SOMEWHAT THE STORY
ABOUT WHAT MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT AGREEMENTS BEING MADE
TURNS PEOPLE INTO. THE ASSUMPTION WAS PER THE
CONSENT AGENDA THAT THE TEAMSTERS UNION WOULD AGREE TO A
PROPOSITION THAT WAS MADE TO THEM IN PART GAVE NO RAISES TO
THE PEOPLE ALREADY ENTITLED TO SO-CALLED STEP INCREASES LEAVING
27% OR ABOUT 83 OF THEM TO BE OFFERED NOT A RAISE BUT A
THOUSAND TO 1500 BUCKS WHICH IN PRACTICAL TERMS IS ABOUT 2%,
WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS A PAY CUT. I GUESS THE QUESTION HERE IS,
WHOSE IDEA WAS IT? HOW DID YOU EVER THINK THAT WAS
EVER GOING TO PASS. THERE WAS NO WAY THAT ANYBODY IS
GOING TO AGREE TO A PAY CUT. IT'S REALLY NOT STAFF'S FAULT
THAT YOU ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY.
I TOLD YOU MONTHS AGO THAT YOUR BUDGET HAS TO INCLUDE SALARIES
BECAUSE IT'S YOUR BIGGEST, ONGOING COMMITMENT.
YOU CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. NOW WHAT YOU'RE FACING BY WAY OF
YOUR PAYROLL IS ABOUT A $2.5 MILLION BLACK HOLE.
AS ANOTHER FYI, THE PART OF THE NEGOTIATION THAT WAS IN THAT
CONSENT AGENDA TWO WAS SOME ILLUSION TO THE FACT THAT THEIR
HEALTH INSURANCE WOULDN'T GO UP AFTER THIS YEAR FOR ANOTHER TWO
YEARS. THAT'S A BLANK CHECK.
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THE CITY'S INCREASE OVER THAT TIME IS
LIKELY TO BE COLLECTIVELY SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT
STAFF WOULDN'T BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BUDGET AND SOMETHING YOU NEED TO
INCLUDE. LASTLY, MORE GENERAL POINT, YOU
OVER DOUBLED YOUR BUDGET OVER A PERIOD WHEN INFLATION WAS 35%
AND ALWAYS HOW IT WAS GOING TO END.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT STACIE MASON, THE HR DIRECTOR OUT AS A
SACRIFICIAL LAMB FOR THE FOLLY AND MISTAKES YOU GUYS HAVE MADE.
IT DID CULMINATE, BRING IT TO THE FORE HERE, IN A RATHER
DISTURBING TWO-PAGE ANONYMOUS E-MAIL.
IT WASN'T FROM ME BECAUSE I DON'T DO ANONYMOUS.
ANONYMOUS E-MAIL DETAILING IN PART SEXUAL HARASSMENT, CRONYISM
AND MISUSE OF OPIATE SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
THAT IS A RELATIVELY SERIOUS SET OF ALLEGATIONS.
MY LAST THOUGHT HERE IS IF YOU DON'T WANT ANOTHER
NADALINI-GATE, A COUPLE OF YOU WERE HERE AT THE TIME, I SUGGEST
YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PRONTO. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
DAVID LOUGH. >> YES.
DAVID LOUGH, A ROSEMARY DISTRICT RESIDENT.
MILES, CAN YOU PUT THAT ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE?
I'M GOING TO PRESENT A COUPLE OF NUMBERS TODAY.
WHY? BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR
STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION IN ABOUT NINE DAYS AND THERE IS A
WORKSHOP RESIDENTS MAY SPEAK. THAT'S ONE THING.
THE OTHER THING, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS HAVING A BOARD
MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY. I KNOW THAT ON THEIR AGENDA IS
THE POSSIBLE PARKING THERE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
HERE IS THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT. I DON'T EXPECT TO YOU READ THIS,
BUT THOSE SHOWN ARE THE NUMBER OF UNITS IN EACH OF THOSE
BUILDINGS, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE ROSEMARY IS KIND OF FILLING OUT.
THE ORANGE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE YELLOW ARE PLANNED AND THE RED ARE EXISTING.
SO WHAT THIS AMOUNTS TO, THERE IS AROUND 3300 DWELLING UNITS IN
THE ROSEMARY TODAY. AND DEPENDING ON YOUR MATH, HOW
MANY PEOPLE PER UNIT, VICE MAYOR TRICE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THAT. I USE 1.5.
YOU PICK A NUMBER. BUT IT'S A LOT OF FOLKS.
HERE IS THE THING. WITH THE ABOUT 500 UNDER
CONSTRUCTION TODAY AND GIVE OR TAKE ANOTHER 500 ON THE
PIPELINE, WE WILL HAVE OVER 3,000 DWELLING UNITS IN THE
ROSEMARY IN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS. AGAIN, WHATEVER YOUR MATH IS
AROUND 5,000 PEOPLE. NUMBER 36 DOWN THERE IS THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE ESTIMATED PER ACRE.
THINK OF THAT DENSITY AND WHAT THAT CAN DO IN TERMS OF HELPING
SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT AND OTHER NEEDS THAT A DENSE KIND OF
NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE. ONE GOOD BIT OF NEWS, STILL ON
THE LEFT-HAND BAR, 26% OF THE DWELLING UNITS IN THE ROSEMARY,
ACCORDING TO MY PROJECTIONS IN 2032 WILL REMAIN SENIOR OR
ATTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.
SO WE ARE BUILDING STOCK, WHETHER IT BE LOFTS ON LEMON.
IT JUST SHOWS YOU WHY I THINK THE ROSEMARY IS GREAT, INCLUDING
OUR FIRST TATTOO PARLOR I MIGHT ADD, WHICH HAS COME IN.
HERE IS ONE VISION OF McCOWN'S APARTMENTS THAT THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY IS THINKING ABOUT. THIS IS MY PARTICULAR VISION.
I KNOW TO MR. BULLOCK'S POINT, ASPIRATIONS HAVE TO MEET
REALITY. BUT HERE'S ONE WAY OF THINKING
ABOUT STRUCTURED PARKING IN THIS BUILDING WITH RETAIL ON THE
GROUND FLOOR, WITH EXPERIENTIAL MAKING ROSEMARY THE 15-MINUTE
CITY. THE FINAL SLIDE IS AS TORE AND
LINKS IS TESTING OUT I'LL CALL IT i-Ride 2 CONCEPT.
THAT'S ANOTHER ELEMENT. AS YOU GO INTO YOUR STRATEGIC
PLANNING SESSION, SOME THINGS I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST YOU KEEP IN
MIND. THANKS.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. CHRIS JOHNSON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
CHRIS JOHNSON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE UNITED WAY OF
SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY. WE ARE THE LEAD AGENCY FOR BOTH
THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUP FOR HURRICANES IAN, IDALIA, DEBBY,
MILTON AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN
DISASTER. ALSO RECENTLY, THE RECIPIENT OF
DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH FEMA AND THROUGH
THE STATE AND VOLUNTEER FLORIDA. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE
TODAY ON WHAT WE'RE DOING COUNTYWIDE WITH THE LONG-TERM
RECOVERY GROUP AND WITH THE DCMP, DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM. TO DATE, COMPLETED 120 REBUILDS
ON HOMES HELPING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THESE FIVE STORMS.
RETURN TO SAFE, SECURE AND FUNCTIONAL HOUSING.
WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR
RECONSTRUCTION. EVERY BIT OF THE FUNDING WE USED
FOR RECONSTRUCTION WE HAVE RAISED OURSELVES.
WE'RE THRILLED TO SHARE THAT WE SUCCEEDED THE CONTINUED SUPPORT
FOR WORLD RENEW FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
WORLD RENEW OFFERS VOLUNTEER SKILLED LABOR FORCE THAT COMES
INTO OUR COMMUNITY. CONTRIBUTED $1.2 MILLION WORTH
OF LABOR IN LAST TWO YEARS AND CONTINUE THE EFFORTS WITH
HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
OTHER LABOR GROUPS, MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICES, PRAYING
PELICAN MISSIONS AND PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER
ASSISTANCE. GREATLY EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO
REBUILD HOMES. LONG-TERM RECOVERY ALSO SECURE
THE PURCHASE OF 16-FOOT BOX TRUCK SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
TRANSPORT BUILDING MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES TO WORK SITES.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD FOR US IN OUR ABILITY TO
INCREASE LOGISTICAL EFFICIENCY. HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN
ONGOING NEED FOR A WAREHOUSE TO STORE CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES AND
DONATED MATERIALS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO TRY TO FIND A
PARTNERSHIP TO DO. CURRENTLY, LONG-TERM RECOVERY
GROUP HAS 78 ACTIVE CASES SPANNING FROM HURRICANE IAN
THROUGH HURRICANE MILTON. CASE MANAGERS ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF MAKING THE FIRST INITIAL 540 OUTREACH CALLS TO THOSE THAT ARE
ON THE FEMA LIST. 70,000 PEOPLE ON THAT LIST.
AS PART OF THE DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF THEM IS REACHED.
ON THAT NOTE, UNITED WAY OF SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY HAS BEEN
AWARDED $2.2 MILLION OF THE DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FOR HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON.
THIS IS THROUGH VOLUNTEER FLORIDA FROM FEMA.
THIS MARKS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE
WHERE A LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUP IS ADMINISTERING THE DISASTER
CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DIRECTLY.
NORMALLY DONE THROUGH A THIRD PARTY NONPROFIT THAT'S HIRED IN
TO DO THAT. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE A -- TO BE
PART OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM, AND IT REQUIRED APPROVAL AT BOTH THE
STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. ONLY ONE OF TWO COUNTIES IN THIS
PROGRAM, US AND COLLIER, THAT ARE PILOTING THIS INNOVATIVE
APPROACH. AGAIN, DCMP IS CASE MANAGEMENT
ONLY. DOES NOT CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION
MONEY. THERE'S NO FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR
THAT SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THE FUNDS OURSELVES.
WE ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE TO REACH THE 70,000 FOLKS AND WILL
DO THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IN OUR PROCESSES.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN DISASTER RECOVERY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO GIVING YOU UPDATES AS WE GO FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU FOR
THAT. SHAWN PATTEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST OFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITY IN SARASOTA. AND WE SEE IT.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK MORNING SHOUT-OUT AS SOMEONE WHO
ADVISES QUITE A FEW TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, I KNOW
HOW HARD YOUR JOB IS. I MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE
THAT TRULY DOES. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WISH I WAS HERE ON BETTER TERMS.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN SARASOTA WHO EMPLOYS DOZENS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SPONSOR AND SUPPORT THE
SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL. LONGTIME RUNNING EVENT.
WE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO HELPING SUPPORT THE EVENT,
ADVERTISING, CLEANUP, AND FOR A LOT OF MY STAFF, IT WAS THE
FIRST-EVER PROJECT THAT THEY PUT MONEY TOWARDS, THAT WE HELPED
SPONSOR. SO IT'S EXCITING.
THEN WHEN YOU SEE THE SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL, INCLUDING THE
PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS, YOU OFTEN THINK OF THE BUSINESSES
THAT SUPPORT THEM. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY AS
A BUSINESS OWNER I SUPPORT THESE ART INSTALLATIONS.
THEY WERE GREAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I
WAS A SPONSOR FOR THE CHALK FESTIVAL.
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE CHALK FESTIVAL,
EVERYTHING IS PULLED UP. NO MEETINGS, NO NOTICE, NO
CALLS, NOTHING, NO PUSH-BACK. WHAT IS THE CITY OF SARASOTA'S
PLAN TO REIMBURSE OR TO HELP ALLEVIATE DAMAGES FOR THE
BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAD DIRECT LOSSES DUE TO
THE REMOVAL OF ALL THIS PUBLIC ART?
WHY SHOULD I CONTINUE TO SPONSOR ART EVENTS IN SARASOTA COUNTY OR
SARASOTA CITY IF THEY COULD BE DESTROYED AT ANY MOMENT?
THAT'S IT. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU,
SHAWN. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT
THAT THIS IS JUST COMMENTS. IF THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO
RESPOND TO ANYTHING, WE GENERALLY DO THAT AT
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO IT'S NOT INTERACTIVE. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
ITEM 4.1. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER 9? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: MOVE
APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH MOVED
APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Okay, set your vote.
Commissioners. Alright, passes unanimously. All righ OF PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE ON TO THE MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2025.
ANY CORRECTIONS? COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I SUBMITTED SOME NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS
AND ONE SUBSTANTIVE THAT I WILL LET THE CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK
ELABORATE UPON. >>Shayla Griggs: COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH BROUGHT UP UNDER THE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025, MINUTES
REGARDING PAGE 15. IT'S THE SECOND LINE, AND IT
READS, AND THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE WORD NEIGHBORHOOD
BEING REMOVED FROM THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, ALONG WITH
CITY DOCUMENTS. THIS IS A COMMENT BASED ON
CITIZENS' INPUT. I BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION WAS NOT
ABOUT US LOOKING TO REMOVE THE WORD NEIGHBORHOOD BUT AS TO WHY
IT WAS ALREADY REMOVED. I THINK, AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT
IS MEANT BY OTHER CITY DOCUMENTS.
MAY I SUGGEST ADDING IN THE CONTEXT A LITTLE, RESPONSE TO
CITIZEN INPUT. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH SPOKE ABOUT
OR SOMETHING SIMPLE TO ADD CONTEXT.
FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE GET WHAT COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH WAS
TRYING TO STATE. SO OUR ANSWER IS, THIS IS UNDER
COMMISSIONER OHLRICH'S REMARKS. BECAUSE SHE REITERATED THE TOPIC
AS A RESULT OF CITIZENS' INPUT RECEIVED, WE BELIEVE THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE MAYBE NEEDED TO ELABORATE MORE ON.
THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT THERE IN THAT CONTEXT.
HOWEVER, ONCE IT WAS MENTIONED COMMISSION DISCUSSION ENSUED
MORE, YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT IT MORE.
THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT THERE LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO CHIME IN BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT YOU.
SO THE CLOSED CAPTIONING IS COMMISSIONER OHLRICH'S STATEMENT
INTERPRETING HOW SHE UNDERSTOOD THE CITIZENS INPUT RECEIVED AND
THEN MINUTES REFLECT COMMISSIONER OHLRICH'S
STATEMENT. THAT'S BASICALLY WE WERE JUST
REFLECTING WHAT COMMISSIONER OHLRICH WAS STATING IN CASE IT
CAME BACK UP LATER. IT WAS IN CONTEXT TO WHAT WAS
BEING DISCUSSED. WE AGREED WITH SOME LANGUAGE
MOVEMENT AND THAT WILL BE REFLECTED.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: WHEN YOU READ, SOMETIMES YOU READ THESE
OUT OF CONTEXT. WE WERE THERE, BUT IF SOMEBODY
WOULD JUST READ THIS, THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT WE WERE
DISCUSSING REMOVING NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE COMP
PLAN, IT READ A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO ME.
SO I THOUGHT IF WE ADDED JUST SOME SORT OF CONTEXT AND
MS. GRIGGS AND MS. JOHNSON CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT WAS VERY
SIMPLE, A ONE-LINER THAT WAS IN CONTEXT OF CITIZENS AND THAT WE
DISCUSS IT AS A BODY. >>Mayor Alpert: WE CAN HAVE A
MOTION FOR THE UPDATED. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I MOVE
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS CHANGED?
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
OHLRICH MOVED APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING
OF SEPTEMBER 15 AS AMENDED. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH
SECONDED. IF YOU'LL VOTE COMMISSIONERS.
IS THAT YOUR VOTE? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE ARE NOW AT ITEM 4.3, THE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
OF SEPTEMBER 15. ANY CHANGES?
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I HAVE NONE. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: MOVE
APPROVAL. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND.
>>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER OHLRICH MOVED APPROVAL OF THE
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2025.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH SECONDED.
IF YOU'LL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 4.4, THESE ARE THE MINUTES
OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER
16, 2025. MAN, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING A LOT.
ANY CORRECTIONS? >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I HAD NONE.
>>Mayor Alpert: CAN I GET A MOTION?
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: MOVE APPROVAL.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH MOVED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2025.
COMMISSIONER OHLRICH SECONDED. IF YOU'LL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS.
IS THAT YOUR VOTE? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY. WE GO NOW TO CONSENT AGENDA
NUMBER 1. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TOON PULLED
FROM CONSENT AGENDA 1? >>Shayla Griggs: YES, MAYOR.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH WANTED TO PULL ITEM 6.3 -- IS THAT
CORRECT? >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: 2.
>>Shayla Griggs: SORRY. --
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: 6.3. >>Shayla Griggs: I THOUGHT I SAW
-- JUST 6.3, CORRECT? I ALSO HAVE A CITIZENS' INPUT
FOR AN AGENDA ITEM ON CONSENT ONE THAT IS NOT PULLED.
>>Mayor Alpert: WHICH ITEM IS THAT?
>>Shayla Griggs: THAT IS FOR ITEM 6.5.
>>Mayor Alpert: LET'S PULL THAT THEN.
DO WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA
WHICH ELIMINATES 6.3 AND 6.5? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: MOVE
APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF CONSENT 1.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
OHLRICH MOVED APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF CONSENT 1.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH SECONDED.
IF YOU'LL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET'S GO TO ITEM 6.3.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I ASKED THAT THIS ITEM BE PULLED, IF WE COULD
HAVE MS. KELLY COME DOWN FOR A SECOND.
I JUST ASKED THAT THIS BE PULLED SO MS. KELLY COULD MAKE A BRIEF
PRESENTATION ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM AND SOME OF THE GRANTS
THAT SHE RECEIVED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROGRAM IS
AVAILABLE AND THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS DO APPLY AND IT
MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR THEM IN THEIR OUTREACH IN A
LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> NANCY KELLY, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER.
GREAT TIME TO ASK ME TO COME UP HERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A RECORD
NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS THIS YEAR. 18 NEIGHBORHOODS APPLIED, AND
OUR BUDGET IS 40,000 WITH THE 18 GRANTS EQUALS A LITTLE OVER
36,000. THE REMAINING BALANCE WE'VE
ALREADY HAD ABOUT 15 COMMUNITY BUILDING GRANTS WHICH EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD IS ENTITLED TO ONE COMMUNITY BUILDING GRANT FOR
$250 TO HOLD A NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT.
ALREADY RECEIVED ABOUT 15. I'M ALMOST OUT OF MONEY OF THE
40,000. AS I SAID, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR 21 YEARS. IT IS SO THRILLING TO WORK WITH
ALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP THEM.
THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEER BOARDS. THEY GIVE THEIR OWN TIME.
AND THEY JUST WANT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO BE A COMMUNITY.
SO THIS HELPS THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
POSTCARD MAILINGS, NEWSLETTERS, EVENTS, LANDSCAPING.
IT BRINGS ALL THE RESIDENTS TOGETHER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK IT'S VALUABLE. ANYTHING ELSE?
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A SMALL POINT OF
PRIVILEGE AND SAY AS A NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, BEFORE I
WAS ON THE COMMISSION, I WORKED WITH MS. KELLY IN A VARIETY OF
OTHER CAPACITIES. SHE HAS ALWAYS PUT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST AND THE INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS AND
THE COMMUNITY FIRST. WHENEVER I GO TO ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, SHE'S ALMOST
ALWAYS THERE AND THE NEIGHBORS ALWAYS THANK HER FOR HER HELP,
HER GUIDANCE, AND HER SERVICE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. >>Mayor Alpert: THEY ALL LOVE
NANCY. VICE MAYOR.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I WANT TO THANK YOU AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A
NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON. A QUESTION.
HOW MANY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOODS DO WE HAVE IN THE
CITY? BALLPARK.
>> LITTLE OVER 50. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: SO ALREADY
WE'RE GIVING TO 18. YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE A YEAR, SO
WE'VE GOT, WHAT, 32 THAT MIGHT BE VYING FOR THE $4,000 THAT'S
LEFT OVER. >> CORRECT.
OFTENTIMES SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DIDN'T APPLY
WEREN'T PART OF THE 18 HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN COMMUNITY
BUILDING GRANTS. THEY DIDN'T NEED THE FULL 2,000
BUT APPLIED FOR THE 250 AND ALREADY AWARDED THAT.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: GREAT. I'M REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC BECAUSE
SO MANY OF THE GRANTS WERE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, WHETHER IT WAS
SENDING OUT NOTICES OF MEETINGS, DOING A WEBSITE, DOING
NEWSLETTERS, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I'M HOPING THAT LEADING UP TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET HEARINGS THAT
MAYBE YOU SUGGEST THAT WE INCREASE THE GRANT FUNDING SO WE
CAN EXTEND THE BENEFITS TO EVEN MORE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
ONE MORE THING. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES IN THE
PAST HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING FOR MANATEE COUNTY,
SARASOTA COUNTY, AND THE CITY. AND THAT WAS SUCH A WORTHWHILE
EVENT. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL LOOK
INTO DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.
THE SUMMIT, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.
I SAW YOU THERE. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THAT'S
ALL RIGHT. SO THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO IS
EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE NOT REMOVED NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> AMEN. >>Mayor Alpert: I WAS THINKING
SAYING THAT, SO I'M GLAD YOU DID.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE GRANTS AS
PROPOSED. >> SECOND.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. THE VICE MAYOR MOVED APPROVAL OF
ITEM 6.3. COMMISSIONER BATTIE SECONDED.
IF YOU WILL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
ALL RIGHT. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
NOW WE HAVE ITEM 6.5. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK ON THIS. MR. MARTIN HYDE.
>>Shayla Griggs: NONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS PULLED IT.
>>Mayor Alpert: WE ONLY PULLED IT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
>> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T READ THE AGENDA OR THOUGHT THIS
WAS OKAY, MY NAME OBVIOUSLY REMAINS MARTIN HYDE.
IT'S A DE FACTO NO BID CONTRACT EXTENSION BY STEALTH.
MY FIRST QUESTION, WHY PUT $370,000 CLEANING CONTRACT ON
CONSENT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT EXPIRED?
WHY AFTER FOUR YEARS ISN'T IT REBID?
BECAUSE THEY ARE ASKING FOR A 20% INCREASE.
NOW, IT DOES STIPULATE OR STATE WITHIN THERE THAT THESE ARE
ADDITIONAL SERVICES. BUT IF THINGS HAVE CHANGED,
THINGS HAVE CHANGED. ONE MIGHT REASONABLY SAY OR HOPE
THAT SOMEONE WOULD ASK THE QUESTION, WHY NONE OF YOU ASK
ABOUT IT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT A DEFICIT DESPITE A
9% MILLAGE INCREASE. OBVIOUSLY ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER.
IT IS, AS I SAID, 20% INCREASE ON THE CURRENT CONTRACT, SO IT
DOES MERIT BIDDING OUT. QUESTION RHETORICALLY ASKING,
OBVIOUSLY, IS THIS ACTUALLY YOUR DECISION OR ONE THAT SUITS
STAFF? FOR STAFF IT MEANS NO WORK AND
NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM. BUT UNDER YOUR CURRENT BUDGET
CRISIS, ONE MIGHT HOPE STAFF WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO LOOK FOR
SAVINGS. THAT IS WHAT A CITY MANAGER FOR
20 PLUS GRAND A MONTH SHOULD BE DOING.
OVERALL, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE STORY OF BLOCKBUSTER AND
NETFLIX. BLOCKBUSTER THOUGHT THE GOOD
TIMES WOULD NEVER END. NETFLIX WAS SENDING OUT THEIR
VIDEOS BY MAIL. AND THEY DECIDED IF THEY WERE TO
SURVIVE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO INNOVATE AND ADAPT.
THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER STORE IS ACTUALLY STILL OPEN IN BEND,
OREGON. BUT IT IS THE ONLY ONE.
THE OTHER 4499 ARE CLOSED. MEANWHILE, NETFLIX MARKET
CAPITALIZATION ON THE POSITIVE SIDE IS $527 BILLION.
THE MORAL OF THAT IS FAIRLY CLEAR.
YOU HAVE TO ADAPT TO NEW REALITIES OR YOU HAVE TO FACE
THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES. THE SIMPLE POINT HERE IS A
FAIRLY OBVIOUS ONE. I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD BE
GRABBING EVERY ITEM OF COST, LOOKING FOR SAVINGS AT THIS TIME
ISN'T JUST GOOD SENSE AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY UNLESS YOU WANT TO BECOME THE
MUNICIPAL EQUIVALENT OF BLOCKBUSTER.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY DISCUSSION OR
QUESTIONS OR A MOTION? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL
MOVE APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 6.5.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
OHLRICH MOVED APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 6.5.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH SECONDED.
IF YOU'LL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA
NUMBER TWO. ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED THERE?
>>Shayla Griggs: YES, MAYOR. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH PULLED
ITEM 7.3 AND 7.4. THAT IS ALL I AM AWARE OF.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE
BALANCE? YOU'VE GOT TO READ THEM.
SORRY. >>Shayla Griggs: I'LL READ ALL
OF THEM. RESOLUTION 26 R-3358, A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SARASOTA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN PROGRAM,
MAKING FINDINGS, AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT 1 TO LOAN AGREEMENT DW
580250, PROVIDING ASSURANCES, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS,
SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RESOLUTION 26 R-3359, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STATE
REVOLVING FUND LOAN PROGRAM, MAKING FINDINGS, AUTHORIZING
AMENDMENT 1 TO LOAN AGREEMENT WW 580260, PROVIDING ASSURANCES,
PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25-5577, AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, AKA, THE SARASOTA
CITY PLAN, TO REVISE THE TEXT OF ACTION STRATEGY 4.15 OF THE
FUTURE LAND USE CHAPTER TO PROVIDE THAT THE ZONING CODE
RATHER THAN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IS THE DOCUMENT THAT
CONTAINS THE OFFICIAL MAP OF PRIMARY GRID STREETS AND TO
RELOCATE THE MODIFIED TEXT OF SAID ACTION STRATEGY FROM
OBJECTIVE 4, DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, TO OBJECTIVE 2, LAND
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, REPEALING ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF THE PARTS
HEREOF, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE NUMBER 5580, AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, TO REZONE
THAT CERTAIN VACANT PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY TOTALING
APPROXIMATELY 1.35 + ACRES LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER
OF ASPINWALL STREET AND RHODES AVENUE WITH A STREET ADDRESS OF
351 NORTH RHODES AVENUE FROM THE OFFICE REGIONAL DISTRICT ORD TO
THE URBAN MIX USE 1 MU-1 ZONE DISTRICT, APPROVING SITE PLAN
APPLICATION NUMBER 24-SP-11 TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A 17 UNIT
SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT TO BE PLATTED AS
INDIVIDUAL LOTS UPON THE REZONED REAL PROPERTY, ALL AS MORE
PARTICULARLY SET FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE
ONLY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF AGENDA NUMBER 2,
WHICH IS ITEM 7.1 AND 7.2? >>Kyle Battie: SO MOVED.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
BATTIE MOVED TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA NUMBER
1 WHICH INCLUDE ITEM 7.1 AND 7.2.
COMMISSIONER OHLRICH SECONDED. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THAT'S
CONSENT AGENDA 2. >>Mayor Alpert: I SAID ONE.
CONSENT AGENDA 2. THANK YOU.
>>Shayla Griggs: ALSO ROLL CALL. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES.
>>Mayor Alpert: YES. >>Kyle Battie: YES.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: YES. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: YES.
>>Mayor Alpert: OKAY. NOW GOING TO -- IS THAT YOUR
VOTE, COMMISSIONERS? >> YES.
>>Shayla Griggs: MOTION PASSES. >>Mayor Alpert: TRYING TO FINISH
BY 5 HERE. ITEM 7.3, COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH, YOU PULLED THAT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I PULLED THIS
TO HAVE AN EXPRESSED VOTE ON IT. UNLESS ANYBODY HAS COMMENTS, I
MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 25-5577.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
AHEARN-KOCH MOVED APPROVAL ON ITEM 7.3.
COMMISSIONER OHLRICH SECONDED. IF YOU'LL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS.
YES. >>Kyle Battie: YES.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: YES. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: YES.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES. >>Mayor Alpert: IS THAT YOUR
VOTE, COMMISSIONERS? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 7.4. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SAME.
TO HAVE AN EXPRESSED VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY
COMMENTS, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 25-5580.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SECOND. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE A COMMENT, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: SURE.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO BE SUPPORTING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR
THE PEOPLE OF SARASOTA IN HELPING TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME
HOUSING AND OWNERSHIP OF THAT LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. CAN I GET A MOTION?
>>Shayla Griggs: ALREADY DID THAT.
ALSO ROLL CALL. BATTIE?
>>Kyle Battie: YES. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: YES.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: YES. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES.
>>Mayor Alpert: YES. >>Shayla Griggs: MOTION PASSES
5-0. >>Mayor Alpert: MOTION PASSES
5-0. ALL RIGHT.
CITY MANAGER SEARCH UPDATE, ITEM 9 FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
>>Shayla Griggs: THANK YOU. AS OF RIGHT NOW, TODAY, THANK
YOU ALL FOR MEETING WITH THE STRATEGIC -- I MEAN, THE SEARCH
FIRM. HE DEFINITELY STATED THAT HE GOT
A LOT OF FEEDBACK. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE
ADVERTISEMENT BEFORE YOU ALL TO REVIEW AT THE NEXT CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET ALL OF THAT
COMPILED AND HE CAN GET THAT DONE AND HAVE OFFICIAL
ADVERTISEMENT READY FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW AND HOPEFULLY APPROVE
SO WE CAN KIND OF FORWARD THE PROCESS.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: WILL WE BE GETTING THAT AHEAD OF TIME?
>>Shayla Griggs: YES. AS SOON AS WE GET IT, YEAH.
>>Joseph Polzak: IT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR FORMAL APPROVAL.
>>Shayla Griggs: THAT'S ALL THE UPDATES WE HAVE.
>>Joseph Polzak: YES, THAT'S IT. >>Mayor Alpert: IF THERE'S
NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GOING TO CALL UPON THE CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK TO ADMINISTER
THE OATH. >>Shayla Griggs: ANYONE WHO
PLANS TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, PLEASE STAND AND
TAKE THE OATH. >>Mayor Alpert: ITEM 10.1.
>>Shayla Griggs: DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE OR
FACTUAL REPRESENTATIONS WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE OR PRESENT
TO THIS COMMISSION DURING ANY PUBLIC HEARING HELD THIS 20th
DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025, ARE TRUTHFUL?
THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE
25-5583 AND CALL UPON THE CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK TO READ THE
TITLE. >>Shayla Griggs: THANK YOU,
MAYOR. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME.
THIS IS A LONG ONE, EVERYONE. ORDINANCE 25-5583, AN ORDINANCE
OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING
CODE 2002 EDITION, ARTICLE II, DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF
CONSTRUCTION, TO MODIFY DEFINITION OF DWELLING UNIT AND
PROTECTED TREE, AND DELETE DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL PARKING
LOTS, ARTICLE III, DECISION MAKING AND ADMINISTRATIVE
BODIES, TO REMOVE THE CITY COMMISSION AND PLANNING BOARD
AUTHORITY TO APPROVE AND REVIEW SUBDIVISION PLATS CONSISTENT
WITH STATE STATUTE, AND ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT
THE BUILDING OFFICIAL BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY MANAGER;
ARTICLE IV, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURES, TO ESTABLISH THE
ABILITY FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD TO GRANT
VARIANCES OR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MAXIMUM DENSITY WHEN A LOCALLY
DESIGNATED HISTORIC STRUCTURE IS RELOCATED TO A DIFFERENT ZONING
LOT, AND MODIFY SUBDIVISIONS/PLATS STANDARDS;
ARTICLE VI, ZONE DISTRICTS, TO MODIFY BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS
IN DOWNTOWN ZONE DISTRICTS, ELIMINATE STORAGE REQUIREMENT IN
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES, MODIFY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN
DOWNTOWN ZONE DISTRICTS, MODIFY LANDSCAPING PLAN REQUIREMENTS,
MODIFY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN URBAN MIXED-USE DISTRICTS, AND
AMEND STAGING PLAN REQUIREMENTS; ARTICLE VII, REGULATIONS OF
GENERAL APPLICABILITY, TO MODIFY POOL AND POOL CAGE SETBACKS,
CLARIFY BICYCLE STANDARDS, CLARIFY THAT THE PARKING IS
PROHIBITED IN WATERFRONT SETBACKS, MODIFY RECOMMENDED
TREE LIST, CLARIFY GRAND TREE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, CLARIFY
TREE PROTECTION STANDARDS DURING AN EMERGENCY, MODIFY PLANT
MATERIAL AND INSTALLATION STANDARDS, CLARIFY WINDOW SIGN
PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS, AND MODIFY HOW HEIGHT
OF STRUCTURES LESS THAN 30 INCHES ARE MEASURED WITHIN THE
WATERFRONT SETBACK; ARTICLE VIII, ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS
AND PENALTIES TO ADD CERTAIN AGREEMENTS TO BE ENFORCED BY
CODE ENFORCEMENT; FOR SEVERABILITY OF THE PARTS
HEREOF; PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW WE'LL CALL UPON OUR PLANNING
GENERAL MANAGER CHAPDELAIN AND CHIEF PLANNER DOBBS TO MAKE A
PRESENTATION. >>Ryan Chapdelain: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, RYAN CHAPDELAIN, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT. AND BRIANA DOBBS, CHIEF PLANNER.
GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE ZTA BATCH THAT MS. GRIGGS JUST READ
OFF. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE, WE
DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, SO THIS IS THE ONE FOR 2025.
WE HAVE ROUGHLY 22 INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.
WE'LL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THAT.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, THE PLANNING BOARD HEARD THIS AND THEY
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR ALL OF THESE BUT TWO.
AND THAT'S NUMBER 8, LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS AND NUMBER 15,
MAXIMUM BUILDING LENGTH. WE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL ON THAT AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
ONE OTHER ITEM I WANTED TO MENTION, THERE WAS A ZT ITEM
THAT THE PLANNING BOARD HEARD THAT HAS SINCE BEEN WITHDRAWN
FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING BASED ON THE GUIDANCE OF INTERIM CITY
MANAGER MR. BULLOCK. IT DEALT WITH HOW THE BUILDING
OFFICIAL APPOINTED. SLIGHT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE
ZONING CODE AND CITY CODE. WE BELIEVE THE CITY CODE WILL
PROBABLY BE THE MORE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENT IN WHICH TO MAKE THAT
AMENDMENT. THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD
SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S WITHDRAWN FOR THIS
PARTICULAR HEARING. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
GET STARTED. THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU HERE IS REGARDING ROOFTOP MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT CLARIFIES THAT EQUIPMENT BE
FULLY SCREENED FROM ALL SIDES. IT ALLOWS DECORATIVE PANELS
INCLUDING METAL TO BE USED PROMOTING VISUAL COMPATIBILITY
AND ADDRESSING ANY CONFUSION RELATED TO PERMITTED SCREENING
MATERIALS. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: MAYOR,
SHOULD WE ASK QUESTIONS AFTER EACH ITEM OR AT THE VERY END?
>>Mayor Alpert: I WOULD PREFER WE WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END SO
THEY CAN GET THROUGH THEIR PRESENTATION.
>>Ryan Chapdelain: NEXT IS DWELLING UNIT DEFINITION WE
RECEIVED A LOT OF PERMIT -- REDOING A HOUSE WITH A POOL.
WANT A DESIGNATED POOL BATH. CURRENTLY IN THE CODE,
DEFINITION OF DWELLING UNIT REQUIRES THAT ALL THE ROOMS HAVE
AN INTERNAL CONNECTION. THIS WOULD MODIFY THAT
DEFINITION TO ALLOW AN ATTACHED ACCESSORY ROOM TO NOT HAVE THAT
INTERNAL CONNECTION TO THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
YOU SEE IN THE GRAPHIC THERE, A POOL BATH THAT WOULDN'T CONNECT
INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE. UTILITY ROOM OR STORAGE ROOM
COULD ALSO HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF COMPONENT.
THE NEXT ITEM IS COMMERCIAL PARKING.
RIGHT NOW IN THE CODE WE HAVE TWO COMMERCIAL PARKING
DEFINITIONS. ONE IS A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE
AND THAT IS ENCOMPASSING AS THE OTHER.
WE'LL GO WITH THE MORE ENCOMPASSING DEFINITION TO
MINIMIZE CONFUSION AND REALLY CLARIFY HOW COMMERCIAL PARKING
LOTS AND GARAGES CAN BE USED. IT CAN BE FOUR FEET OR NOT FOUR
FEET. JUST CREATING THAT MORE
ENCOMPASSING DEFINITION OR GOING WITH THAT PARTICULAR DEFINITION.
SETBACK REQUIREMENT FOR POOLS. THIS ITEM CLARIFIES THAT A
CONSISTENT FIVE FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT FOR SWIMMING POOLS
AND POOL CAGES HELPS STREAMLINE THE PERMIT REVIEW AND PREVENTS
SITE DESIGN ISSUES. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE GOING INTO THIS WHEN THEY ARE BUILDING A POOL, THAT THEY
KNOW IT IS A FIVE FOOT SETBACK. IF THE POOL IS FIVE FEET, YOU
WANT TO ERECT THE CAGE LATER ON, THAT MAY CAUSE AN ISSUE.
MAKING IT VERY CLEAR IN THE CODE WHAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
BICYCLE PARKING, THIS SIMPLY IS JUST CLARIFYING THAT IT APPLIES
TO ALL DEVELOPMENTS OR NONRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
EITHER IN THE DOWNTOWN OR OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN.
JUST PROVIDING THAT CLARITY WITHIN THE CODE.
LOCATION OF PARKING AND WATERFRONT SETBACKS, AGAIN, MORE
OF A CLARIFICATION WITHIN THE CODE, ENUMERATING IT
SPECIFICALLY IN THE CODE THAT IT CLEARLY STATES THAT PARKING IS
NOT ALLOWED IN ANY REQUIRED WATERFRONT SETBACK.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO MS. DOBBS.
>>Briana Dobbs: BRIANA DOBBS, CHIEF PLANNER FOR THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 7, ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE
TWO-STORY LIMIT IN THE RSM 9 DISTRICT WHICH IS IN LAUREL PARK
WHILE MAINTAINING THE 30-FOOT MAXIMUM HEIGHT, ELIMINATING THE
NUMBER OF STORIES IS CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE OTHER SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONE DISTRICTS THAT CURRENTLY ARE ONLY MEASURED HEIGHT AND
FEET. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AMENDMENT
TO SECTION 6-1005 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
THAT'S BEING UPDATED FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THIS CHANGE.
ITEM NUMBER 8 ALLOWS LOTS WITH A FRONT WIDTH OF 30 FEET OR LESS,
WHICH IS TYPICALLY AN ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OR A TOWNHOME
TO PLANT AN UNDERSTORY TREE WHEN IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO PLANT A
CANOPY TREE TO MEET THE LANDSCAPE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.
THIS APPROACH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ZONING CODE RIGHT TREE,
RIGHT PLACE PRINCIPLE WHICH REQUIRES SITE EVALUATION AND
SPECIE SELECTIONS BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS UTILITY
CONFLICTS, SOIL CONDITIONS, ROOT SPACING AND MATURE SIZE.
I DO HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF UNDERSTORY TREES THAT ARE
FLORIDA FRIENDLY AND NATIVE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED HERE.
THE ZONING CODE, UNDERSTORY TREE DOES REACH UP TO 35 FEET AT
MATURE SIZE. JUST A COUPLE MORE GRAPHICS.
ITEM NUMBER 9 MOVES INVASIVE AND MISCLASSIFIED SPECIES FROM THE
PROTECTED TREE. RECLINATA CLASS 2 INVASIVE FROM
THE INVASIVE COUNCIL AND SAW PALMETTO DOES NOT MEET THE
PROTECTED TREE DUE TO THE TYPICAL TRUNK HEIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER 10, PINK TABEBUIA IS BEING REMOVED FROM THE CITY'S
RECOMMENDED TREE LIST BECAUSE IT IS NOW CONSIDERED A CLASS 2
INVASIVE SPECIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA BY THE FLORIDA INVASIVE
SPECIES COUNCIL. THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT PROHIBIT
PLANTING THE TREE. IT SIMPLY MEANS IT WILL NO
LONGER BE PROMOTED AS ONE OF THE CITY'S OPTIONS SINCE IT IS NOW
INVASIVE. ITEM NUMBER 11 REINFORCES THE
EXISTING REQUIREMENT THAT TREE REMOVAL PERMITS FOR GRAND TREES
MUST BE POSTED AND GRAND TREES MUST BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED WITH
AN ORANGE RIBBON. TREES NOT PROPERLY MARKED WILL
BE SUBJECT TO A FINE. ITEM NUMBER 12 CLARIFIES THAT
THE SUSPENDED TREE PROTECTION STANDARDS ONLY APPLY TO TREES
THAT ARE DEAD, STORM DAMAGED, UPROOTED OR DOWNED AND IT DOES
NOT APPLY TO HEALTHY TREES. ITEM NUMBER 13, EXISTING
REGULATIONS IN THE ZONING CODE ALLOW THREE PALM TREES PLANTED
AT 12 FEET HIGH TO EQUAL TO ONE REQUIRED CANOPY TREE.
THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT PROPOSES TO REMOVE QUEEN PALM AS
IT IS NOW CONSIDERED A CLASS TWO INVASIVE AND REPLACES WITH A
RIBBON PALM TO COUNT TOWARD THE CANOPY TREE REQUIREMENT AT 3:1
RATIO. RIBBON PALM IS CONSIDERED
FLORIDA FRIENDLY. ITEM 14 MODIFIES THE EXISTING 1O
FINISHED CEILING HEIGHT REQUIREMENT AT THE SIDEWALK
LEVEL TO ONLY APPLY FOR A MINIMUM OF 20 FEET IN DEPTH
INSTEAD OF THE ENTIRE DEPTH OF THE BUILDING, SIMILAR TO THE
HABITABLE SPACE AND FINISHED FLOOR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DOWNTOWN CORE AND DOWNTOWN BAYFRONT BALANCING DESIGN
CONSISTENCIES WITH PRIMARY STREET STANDARDS.
HAVE SEEN DEVELOPMENTS HAVING ISSUES MEETING THE 12-FOOT
HEIGHT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DEPTH OF THE BUILDING.
MANY TIMES SEE A LINER BUILDING AND THAT WOULD BE LINING A
GARAGE. THE GARAGE WOULD NEED TO STILL
MEET THAT ENTIRE HEIGHT STANDARD.
MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE 12 FEET HEIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER 15 PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING
LENGTH FROM 200 TO 250, WHICH ALLOWS MORE DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
WHILE STILL PROTECTING WALKABILITY.
THIS REQUIREMENT IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE URBAN MIXED
USE ZONE DISTRICTS WHICH CAN BE FOUND ALONG THE CITY'S
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. ONE EXAMPLE OF A BUILDING THAT
EXCEEDS THE 200-FOOT LENGTH IS CITRUS SQUARE PHASE TWO WHICH IS
PROVIDED IMAGE ON THE SCREEN. ITEM NUMBER 16 RELOCATES
EXISTING LANGUAGE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION STAGING PLANS FOR
CLARITY AND REINFORCES THAT THESE PLANS ARE REQUIRED FOR
NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. ALL RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
GREATER THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS GREATER
THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET, EXISTING LANGUAGE AND STANDARDS ARE NOT
BEING CHANGED. THIS IS SIMPLY BEING RELOCATED
TO THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION AND APPLICABILITY OF THE SECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 17 ALLOWS THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD TO
GRANT DENSITIES, DENSITY VARIANCES OR ADJUSTMENTS WHEN
RELOCATING LOCALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC STRUCTURES.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT PROVIDES RELIEF THAT MAY INCENTIVE
PRESERVING A LOCAL DESIGNATED BUILDING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE USED WITH THE McALPIN HOUSE.
NUMBER 18, SENATE BILL 812 ESTABLISHES AN EXPEDITED
PERMITTING PROCESS THAT ALLOWS ISSUANCE UP TO 75% OF
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY PLAT.
PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF FINAL PLAT.
SENATE BILL 784 REQUIRES A PLAT OR REPLAT TO BE APPROVED,
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS OR DENIED ADMINISTRATIVELY RATHER
THAN GOING TO THE PLANNING BOARD AND CITY COMMISSION.
SO THESE TWO CHANGES LINE THE CITY SUBDIVISIONS AND PLAT
PROCESS WITH THE NEWER SENATE BILLS AS WELL AS NEW STATE
STATUTE. >>Ryan Chapdelain: FEW MORE TO
GO HERE. EXTERIOR FINISH MATERIALS.
PRIMARY STREETS ONLY SPECIFIC EXTERIOR FINISHED MATERIALS ARE
ALLOWED. SEMEN TISSUES FINISH IS A COMMON
MATERIAL ALLOWED AS EXTERIOR. WINDOW SURROUNDS MADE OF METAL
AND PERMITTED ON PRIMARY STREETS.
THIS ADDS CEMENTITIOUS FINISH AS PERMITTED MATERIAL.
ENFORCEMENT REGARDING VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES, REMEDIES,
THIS RELATES TO JUST KIND OF ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR
THE CITY. CURRENTLY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AGREEMENTS RELATED TO DENSITY BONUSES AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHT AGREEMENTS
CURRENTLY ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO ENFORCE THESE AGREEMENTS
THROUGH THE BUILDING DIVISION AND CODE ENFORCEMENT
PROCEEDINGS. THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE CODIFIES
THIS IN THE ZONING CODE. THAT THE CITY MANAGER MAY
ENFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DENSITY BONUS AGREEMENTS AND
HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENTS
FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
AGAIN, BOTH OF THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE MENTIONED HAVE DEFAULT
PROVISIONS IN THEM. AGAIN, ANOTHER LAYER OF
PROTECTION FOR THE CITY, ONE WE WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS INCORPORATED IN THE ZONING CODE.
WINDOW SIGNS, THIS IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
JUST CLARIFYING THAT ADDITIONAL WINDOW SIGN REGULATION APPLYING
SPECIFIC COMMERCIAL ZONE DISTRICTS AND OVERLAY DISTRICTS.
ESSENTIALLY INCLUDING A CROSS-REFERENCE IN THE ZONING
CODE SO THE ADDITIONAL STANDARDS DO NOT GET MISSED.
LASTLY, THIS RELATES TO WATERFRONT PROPERTY AND
SEAWALLS. THERE WAS A ZONING TEXT
AMENDMENT RECENTLY THAT PERMITTED THE HEIGHT OF
SEAWALLS, INCREASE THE PERMITTED HEIGHT OF SEAWALLS TO SUPPORT
LONG-TERM SHORELINE PROTECTION AND RESILIENCY.
TO DO THAT, PROPERTY OWNERS MAY BE REQUIRED TO BRING ADDITIONAL
FILL TO HELP FORTIFY THE SEAWALL WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE NATURAL
GRADE ABOVE 30 INCHES. PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW
FOR THE HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES NO MORE THAN 30 INCHES IN HEIGHT IN
WATERFRONT SETBACKS, MAYBE A POOL OR A DECK, TO BE MEASURED
FROM THE FINISHED GRADE VERSUS THE NATURAL GRADE.
THAT IS IT. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK. WE'LL TAKE THEM FIRST.
THEN WE'LL GET COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.
CALLY BROWN. BROOK FLEMMING.
CHRIS GALLAGHER. I BELIEVE YOU GET FIVE MINUTES.
STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT.
>> KELLY BROWN, PRESIDENT OF SARASOTA COALITION OF
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BETTER KNOWN AS CCNA, WHICH
REPRESENTS OVER 25,000 HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE CITY OF
SARASOTA. WITH RESPECT TO CCNA MEMBER
FOCUS ON PARTICIPATING IN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLANS,
WE ARE ASKING THE CITY COMMISSION TO PULL THE ZONING
TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST TO MODIFY THE MAXIMUM LENGTH STANDARD FOR
URBAN MIXED-USE ZONE DISTRICT FROM 200 TO 200 FEET FROM THE
BATCH FOR DISCUSSION AND ULTIMATELY DENIAL.
ACCORDING TO CITY STAFF, A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT IS TO
RESOLVE AN INCONSISTENCY OR MAKE A CORRECTION.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS REQUEST FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ZONING CHANGE REQUEST THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED ACCORDINGLY. THE STANDARD -- CURRENT STANDARD
OF 200 FEET HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR ONE YEAR.
WITH THE ORIGINAL STANDARD PRESENTED LAST YEAR ASKED FOR
300 FEET FOR DEVELOPMENT USE. CITY LEADERSHIP DID NOT APPROVE
AT THAT TIME. WHEN CCNA REVIEWED THE
RECOMMENDED BATCH WITH CITY STAFF WEEKS AGO, WE ASKED FOR
CLARIFICATION AS TO WHERE EACH REQUEST FOR CHANGE ORIGINATED.
PER STAFF, THIS REQUEST IS A DEVELOPMENT ARCHITECT REQUEST.
STATED REASON IS THE DIFFICULTY WORKING WITH THE 200-FOOT.
IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE PROJECTS UNDERWAY THAT WERE
ABLE TO WORK WITH THE 200-FOOT RULE.
CCNA DID NOT SUPPORT THE STAFF REQUEST TO INCREASE TO 300 FEET.
CITY STAFF THEN ADJUSTED TO 250 FEET AFTER OUR CONVERSATIONS.
WE WERE UP FRONT WITH CITY STAFF THAT WE DID NOT SUPPORT
250-FOOT. CCNA DOES NOT SUPPORT A CHANGE
FROM THE 200-FOOT STANDARD THAT IS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD.
CURRENT CODE ALLOWS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF A 25%
VARIANCE LEEWAY WHERE BY IF 250-FOOT INCREASE IS APPROVED
THE RESULT WOULD BE OVER 300-FOOT BUILDINGS.
CCNA SPOKE TO THE ISSUE AT THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING WHO
ULTIMATELY DENIED UNANIMOUSLY. WITH THE REALITY OF SB 180, THE
CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE OBLIGATED TO THIS REQUESTED
INCREASE FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME.
DO WE EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PROPERTIES COULD IN EFFECT BUILD
FOOTBALL FIELD LENGTH ADJACENT TO NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
CORRIDORS. THE REQUEST TO INCREASE THE
LENGTH OF BUILDINGS IN THE URBAN ZONE DISTRICT IS UNNECESSARY AND
IN CONFLICT WITH THE COMMISSION'S DIRECTION JUST ONE
YEAR AGO. PLEASE DENY THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SUPPORT.
APPRECIATE YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. BROOK FLEMMING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
FOR THE RECORD, BROOK FLEMMING, CERTIFIED PLANNER WITH
KIMLEY-HORN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENT
ORANGE PINEAPPLE, LLC, THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE McALPIN
HOUSE. WE WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT
OF THE BATCH AMENDMENT SPECIFICALLY ITEM 17 WHICH WILL
AUTHORIZE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD TO PERMIT
VARIANCE OR ADJUSTMENT IN RELATION TO DENSITY PERMITTED ON
A LOT. THIS AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW
FLEXIBILITY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE McALPIN HOUSE TO A SITE
MORE SUITABLE FOR ITS PRESERVATION.
WE APPLAUD THE CITY FOR TAKING THIS ON AND THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. >> CHRIS GALLAGHER.
I SENT MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, SENT YOU ALL AN
E-MAIL THIS MORNING. NOT SURE IF YOU GOT TO SEE IT.
THIS IS ABOUT THE 200-FOOT LONG BUILDING ONE OF THE OTHER
SPEAKERS JUST SAID THEY UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME IN THE
PROCESS. THERE MAY BE, I'M NOT AWARE OF
THEM, I DO KNOW THAT WE I THINK HAD THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS A
HOTEL UP BY THE AIRPORT WHERE WE HAD TO GET AN ADJUSTMENT FOR
MAYBE 230-FOOT BUILDING. WE DID GET THE ADJUSTMENT, BUT
IT STILL PROVIDED LIMITATIONS ON THAT SITE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DIFFERENT SITES WITH LONG BLOCKS ON THEM.
THE E-MAIL I SENT YOU THIS MORNING LISTED FIVE DIFFERENT
BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN THAT ALL HAVE WELL IN EXCESS OF 200 FEET.
ARCOS IS 587. LOFTS ON LEMON, AN ENTIRELY
AFFORDABLE PROJECT IS 383 FEET. THE DISTRICT IS 418 FEET.
ON MAIN 315 FEET. CITY WIDE 444 FEET.
AS DESCRIBED EARLIER, EVEN THE TWO PHASES OF CITRUS SQUARE
NORTH AND SOUTH BOTH LONGER THAN 200 FEET.
CITY'S PALM AVENUE PARKING GARAGE IS 257 FEET.
STATE STREET GARAGE WITH ITS 1500 STATE STREET, THE SMALL
CONDOS AT THE END, TOTALS 349 FEET.
PALM AVENUE AND STATE STREET AS YOU KNOW ARE PLACES THAT WE
REGULARLY HOLD CITY FUNCTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO
BE ATTRACTIVE STREETS. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE PROBLEM
IS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET GOOD ARCHITECTURE NECESSARILY BECAUSE
YOU MAKE THE BUILDINGS SHORTER. ALSO IN THE PACKET I SENT TO
YOU, I GAVE A COUPLE MORE EXAMPLES, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO
LONDON, ONE OF THE MOST WALKABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD AND IT'S GOT
BLOCK UPON BLOCK WITH TOWN HOUSES THAT GO FAR IN EXCESS OF
200 FEET. I ALSO INCLUDED A BUILDING FROM
MY OWN HOMETOWN OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, OLD MILL BUILDING
ON WHAT IS A BEAUTIFUL SEAT. MILL BUILDING IS 700 FEET LONG.
VERY SIMPLE BUILDING BUT VERY PLEASANT WALK AS WELL.
AGAIN, I SUGGEST THAT AGAIN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY
GET GOOD ARCHITECTURE, BETTER WALKABILITY JUST BECAUSE YOU
HAVE A BREAK, TEN FOOT BREAK BETWEEN BUILDINGS.
THINK OF ALL OF MAIN STREET. DO OUR BEST NOT TO HAVE BREAKS
BETWEEN BUILDINGS THAT THEY CONTINUE ON FOREVER FROM BLOCK
END TO BLOCK END. THAT EXHIBIT I PUT UP THERE, B
IS WHAT THE LIMITATIONS WOULD PLACE ON US.
COULD YOU MOVE THAT UP A TINY BIT?
IF YOU ARE OVER 200 FEET, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COUPLE OF
BUILDINGS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS, AND WITH A
10-FOOT SPACE BETWEEN THEM, MY SENSE, 10-FOOT SPACE IS REALLY
KIND OF A SILLY THING. IMAGINE A FOUR-STORY BUILDING
WITH TEN FOOT SPACE, REALLY DOESN'T DO THE JOB EITHER OF
MAKING ANYTHING PLEASANT BUT YOU END UP WITH FOUR STAIRCASES AND
TWO ELEVATORS. AS OPPOSED TO A SINGLE BUILDING
WHERE YOU COULD PUT A STAIR AT EACH END.
SINGLE ELEVATOR. IF YOU DID ALTERNATIVELY DO SOME
KIND OF RECESS, IF YOU KNOW THE BUILDING, THE ARCOS BUILDING,
WHICH IS ON A PRIMARY STREET IS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN THAT THEY
RECESSED IT WHERE THEY DO THEIR LOADING WHERE THE PARKING GARAGE
ENTRANCE IS. THERE ARE APARTMENTS ALONG THE
STREET AND THEN IT FALLS BACK TO THE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS I GUESS
PROBABLY 25 OR 30 FEET BACK. IF YOU HAD A RECESS IN THAT
SENSE, YOU GET MUCH BETTER THAN 10 FEET AND YOU GET THE DESIRED
EFFECT, TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH NOT HAVING A FULL WALL OF BUILDINGS.
AGAIN, MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU THIS MORNING AND MY
RECOMMENDATION AGAIN TODAY -- THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, WE
DO HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS ON THE BOARDS IN THE MU ZONES.
I CAN TELL YOU, IT IS A STRUGGLE WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL BLOCK THAT
IS OVER 200 FEET AND TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFICIENT BUILDING OR
EFFICIENT SET OF BUILDINGS, IT DOES INHIBIT THE FLEXIBILITY ON
IT, WHICH LEADS TO COST. THE WHOLE POINT OF THE MU ZONES
WAS TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT GOES IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION. AGAIN, IF YOU CANNOT SEE PAST
THE 200 FEET, I DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER ANOTHER
ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M PROPOSING IN A ABOVE, WHERE YOU
DO SOME KIND OF RECESS, SIGNIFICANT RECESS, MORE THAN
TEN FEET THAT ACTUALLY MAKES IT FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING
SUBSTANTIAL GOING ON. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU ALL. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, WHICH I SUSPECT THERE
WILL BE A NUMBER OF THEM. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JUST SO I CAN GET THINGS FIGURED OUT IN MY HEAD, HOW DO WE WANT
TO DO THIS? WANT ME TO ASK ALL MY QUESTIONS
FOR EVERY ONE? >>Mayor Alpert: YOU HAVE TEN
MINUTES. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I HAVE
TEN MINUTES. EXCELLENT.
FOR ITEM 1, HAS THE PLANNING BOARD CLARIFICATION BEEN ADDED?
THEY REQUESTED A CLARIFICATION AT THEIR MEETING?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: THAT'S CORRECT.
IT HAS. PARAPET WALLS REQUIRED SCREENING
TECHNIQUE AND WE HAVE CLARIFIED THAT IN THE LANGUAGE.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK YOU.
ITEM NUMBER 2, THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO A KITCHEN IN THESE
DWELLING UNITS. SHOULD IT BE EXPLICIT THAT
THERE'S NO KITCHEN IN THESE UNITS?
>>Briana Dobbs: NO, I THINK THIS IS APPROPRIATE.
IT DOES SAY ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE ZONING CODE WHEN THERE IS A
KITCHEN THAT IT IS CONSIDERED AN ADDITIONAL UNIT.
THAT'S HOW DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND THEN
A DWELLING UNIT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: OKAY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE MET.
WHAT ABOUT A GARAGE OR A CARPORT THAT HAS BEEN ENCLOSED AND MADE
INTO A LIVING UNIT? IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS?
>>Briana Dobbs: THAT WOULD BE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich:
DIFFERENT FROM THIS, BUT IT'S ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR CODE
SOMEWHERE. >>Briana Dobbs: THAT'S CORRECT.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: ITEM 13, PALM TREES.
I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR HAVING THREE PALMS EQUAL ONE
CANOPY TREE, BUT IF THE PALMS ARE SPREAD OUT, THEY SEEM TO ME
TO EQUAL THREE TREES, NOT ONE CANOPY.
IS THERE SOMETHING INCLUDED IN THIS ABOUT PROXIMITY TO EACH
OTHER FOR THE PALM TREES TO MAKE A GROUPING RATHER THAN THREE
INDIVIDUAL PALMS? >>Ryan Chapdelain: WE SPOKE WITH
THE CITY ARBORIST ABOUT THIS. GOOD QUESTION.
GENERALLY THEY WILL BE CLUSTERED DEPENDING ON WHAT MIGHT BE
UNDERGROUND OR IF THERE COULD BE CONFLICTS.
GENERALLY THE PALM TREES ARE CLUSTERED.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IS THERE WORDING TO ENCOURAGE THAT?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: THAT IS THE ARBORIST'S MISSION THAT SHE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THAT, WHEN SHE REVIEWS THESE ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: YEAH, IF
WE DON'T HAVE IT IN WORDS, IT'S JUST ONE PERSON ENCOURAGING
SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING, AND THEY CAN SAY NO.
>>Ryan Chapdelain: THEY COULD. THAT'S GENERALLY BEEN THE
PRACTICE. AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXISTING CODE
STANDARD. WE'RE SIMPLY REPLACING WHAT IS
CONSIDERED INVASIVE TREE NOW WITH A DIFFERENT PALM TREE.
THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE. REQUIRING THAT, WE COULD LOOK AT
IT JUST MAKING SURE THERE IS NOT A POTENTIAL 180 CONFLICT.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IS THE ARBORIST HERE?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: SHE IS. >> JACKIE HARTLEY, CITY
ARBORIST, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. >>Mayor Alpert: BE SURE TO TALK
INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> JACKIE HARTLEY, DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES. SO TODAY WE'RE JUST ASKING TO
REPLACE THE QUEEN PALM WITH THE RIBBON PALM BECAUSE THE QUEEN
PALM IS A CLASS TWO EXOTIC. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THAT
DOESN'T SEEM TO ME TO BE WHAT IT SAYS IN THE FOURTH COLUMN,
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. ON PAGE 11 OF 85.
IT SAYS, PERMITS THREE PALM TREES OF A CERTAIN SPECIES TO BE
CONSIDERED EQUIVALENT TO A CANOPY TREE FOR LANDSCAPING AND
BUFFERING STANDARDS. >> THAT LANGUAGE IS ALREADY IN
THERE. WE ALREADY DO CONSIDER THE
ADDITIONAL PALMS HERE. THREE PALMS FOR ONE CANOPY TREE.
>>Ryan Chapdelain: PAGE 34 IS THE ACTUAL TEXT THAT'S BEING
PROPOSED TO BE REVISED IN BACKUP MATERIAL.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I DON'T HAVE PAGE 34 IN FRONT OF ME.
IS IT LONG? >> THREE OF THE FOLLOWING PALMS
ARE EQUIVALENT TO ONE REQUIRED CANOPY TREE WHEN PLANTED AT THE
REQUIRED HEIGHT OF 12 FEET AND AS STATED BEFORE THE QUEEN PALM
IS NOW CONSIDERED NUISANCE EXOTIC SO WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THAT
OFF AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I SEE.
CORRECT. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON, ITEM NUMBER 15, SO THE POINT THAT MS. BROWN FROM
CCNA MADE IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.
IS IT TRUE THAT AN APPLICATION FOR A BUILDING 200 FEET IN
LENGTH CAN BE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED TO BE HOW LONG?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: THERE IS AN ADJUSTMENT PROCESS UP TO 25% OF
THAT DIMENSIONAL STANDARD CAN BE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY IF IT
EXCEEDS THAT 25% DIMENSIONAL STANDARD, THEN IT WOULD BE A
PLANNING BOARD ADJUSTMENT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IT CAN
BE LONGER THAN 200 FEET. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: 250.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: UP TO. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: WELL, YEAH.
25% OF 200. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: JUST
WANTED TO GET CLARITY ON THAT. ITEM NUMBER 21, THE WINDOW
SIGNS. I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE, THERE
WAS A LOT OF DETAIL IN YOUR MATERIALS REFERENCING ZONING
CODE 7-110, 5, 16, 19, ET CETERA.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ST. ARMANDS IS INCLUDED
SOMEWHERE IN THIS. >>Ryan Chapdelain: IT IS.
IF YOU SEE CT DOWN THERE, THAT IS A COMMERCIAL TOURIST ZONE
DISTRICT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THAT'S
WHAT I THOUGHT. THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE TWO
THAT WERE DENIED BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
ITEM NUMBER 8 AND ITEM NUMBER 15.
IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE CLARIFY THE DISCUSSION AT THE PLANNING
BOARD AND WHAT THEIR REASONING WAS FOR RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL
FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS, NUMBER 8 AND 15.
>>Ryan Chapdelain: SURE. NUMBER 8, THERE WAS SOME
DISCUSSION, I THINK, A COUPLE OF PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS WERE
LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE APPROACH.
JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE
ARE FEE SIMPLE LOTS GENERALLY 30 FEET OR LESS IN LENGTH.
THE IDEA WAS IF -- WE TALKED ABOUT UNDERSTORY TREE AND YOU
SAW THE GRAPHICS IN THE PRESENTATION.
THE COMPROMISE APPROACH THAT I THINK BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD
FROM THE PLANNING BOARD WAS THE PREFERENCE IS A CANOPY TREE.
IF YOU CANNOT DO A CANOPY TREE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, THEN
AN UNDERSTORY TREE COULD BE AN ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE.
AT LEAST IT'S BETTER THAN NOT HAVING ANY TREE AT ALL.
IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE WHOLE
RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE PRINCIPLE, MAKING SURE IN TERMS
OF WHEN YOU HAVE THE SMALL NARROW LOTS, CANOPY TREE, ONCE
IT IS FULLY MATURE, THE ROOT SYSTEM MAY BE IMPACTING THE
STRUCTURE OR THE ASPHALT NEARBY, UTILITIES, JUST ENSURING THAT
THE ROOT SPACING IS APPROPRIATE. GENERALLY THESE TREES I THINK
ARE PLANTED 30 FEET ON CENTER. JUST MAKING SURE THAT IF WE ARE
GOING WITH THE CANOPY TREE THERE, IT CAN BE HEALTHY AND
THRIVE IN THE FUTURE AND NOT SOMETHING REMOVED IN FIVE TO
SEVEN YEARS. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: ONE OF MY
QUESTIONS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THIS IS IN
THEORY THOUGHT ABOUT FOR FUTURE TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT.
WOULDN'T IT BE WISE TO KEEP IT AND HAVE THEM PLAN AROUND A
CANOPY TREE, AROUND THE ROOTS THAT ARE GOING TO GROW INSTEAD
OF SAYING YOU CAN MAXIMIZE THE IMPERVIOUS SPACE AND WE'LL ALLOW
YOU TO PLANT A TREE THAT HAS LESS CANOPY AND LESS SHADE, LESS
MASS AND LESS ROOT SYSTEM TO IMPACT YOUR BUILDING, WHO
WOULDN'T CHOOSE TO DO THAT? WHO WOULDN'T CHOOSE TO MAXIMIZE
THEIR BUILDING SPACE? WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, I'LL VOLUNTARILY PULL BACK ON THE SIZE OF MY UNIT SO I CAN
PLANT A GINORMOUS GRAND TREE? DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE IMPACTS. IF WE ALLOW THEM LESS, THEY WILL
ALWAYS CHOOSE LESS OF A TREE, RIGHT?
OR PLEASE TELL ME THAT I'M WRONG.
>>Briana Dobbs: THIS IS ALSO FOR THE LOTS THAT ARE 30 FEET OR
LESS. MOST COMMONLY THE TOWNHOMES.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT DO HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT ARE 50
FEET OR LARGER. WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED
MORE THINKING ABOUT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, NOT THE
IDEAS FROM THE ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY AND JUST WHAT
WE'VE HEARD, CITY ARBORIST, HAVE YOU SPEAK ON IT AS WELL, JUST
THE DIFFERENCE REQUIRED BETWEEN THE CANOPY TREES IS LARGER.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: LET ME ASK YOU THIS, IN OUR ZONING CODE
ALREADY, IT TALKS ABOUT A GRAND TREE.
IF THE GRAND TREE TAKES UP 25% OF THE BUILDABLE LOT, THEN WE
HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAKING DOWN, ALLOWING THE REMOVAL OF
THE GRAND TREE. BUT THEY HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY
TRIED OTHER ALTERNATE DESIGNS. SHOULD WE HAVE SOME SORT OF
LANGUAGE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SOME SORT OF STANDARDS THAT HAVE
TO BE MET BEFORE WE ALLOW THE UNDERSTORY TREE?
MY CONCERN IS IF WE ALLOW IT, LIKE, IF YOU CAN'T DO A GRAND,
THEN YOU CAN DO AN UNDERSTORY TREE.
THE GOAL WILL BE AN UNDERSTORY TREE.
IT WILL NEVER TRY TO BE ACHIEVABLE TO MAKE THE BUILDING
SMALLER, MAKE THE BUILDING, I DON'T KNOW, CURVE, DO SOMETHING
TO ALLOW GRAND TREE. IF WE REQUIRE SOME SORT OF
STEPS, MEASURES, PROOF, EXERCISE TAKEN TO SEE IF A GRAND TREE
INDEED COULD BE HAD AND IF IT CAN'T, THEN AT THAT TIME ALLOW
FOR AN UNDERSTORY TREE. >>Ryan Chapdelain: THE WAY THIS
IS DRAFTED, THE BURDEN WOULD BE ON THE DEVELOPER TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT THE CANOPY TREE IS NOT FEASIBLE.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: WE HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT YOU FEEL
SUFFICIENT REQUIRES THEM TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IT'S NOT --
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BUILD OR TO PUT IN A GRAND TREE.
>>Ryan Chapdelain: I DO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS IS DRAFTED.
AGAIN, THE PREFERENCE IS THE CANOPY TREE.
CAN'T DO THE CANOPY TREE, THEN THEY NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY
CANNOT PROVIDE THE CANOPY TREE. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU.
ITEM 15 AS WELL, CAN YOU CLARIFY AND SUMMARIZE THE PLANNING
BOARD'S DISCUSSION ON THAT? >>Ryan Chapdelain: SURE.
THEY WERE UNANIMOUS IN THEIR RECOMMENDING DENIAL FOR THIS
PARTICULAR ITEM. THE ADJUSTMENT PROCESS WAS
BROUGHT UP AS IT WAS HERE. AND THEY FELT WITH THAT PROCESS
THEY DID NOT SUGGEST MAKING THE CHANGE.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: DID THEY STATE ANY OTHER REASONS WHY THEY
DIDN'T SUGGEST LIKE THE DOWN-FALLS OF SUPER BLOCKS OR
ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS? >>Ryan Chapdelain: NO.
200, 250 FEET GENERALLY WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A SUPER BLOCK.
I THINK IT WAS MORE JUST -- I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY OTHER THAN THEY
FELT THE NUMBER THAT WAS IN PLACE TODAY WAS SUFFICIENT WITH
THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT ADJUSTMENT PROCESS IF NECESSARY.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I'LL RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT MORE
THAN 200 FEET IS NOT A SUPER BLOCK.
ANYWAY, OKAY. THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. >>Mayor Alpert: VICE MAYOR
TRICE. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO CONFIRM, I HAPPENED TO SEE ON PAGE 34 OF 85 AN ANSWER
TO COMMISSIONER OHLRICH'S QUESTION AT THE VERY TOP OF THE
PAGE. IT'S ABOUT THE GROUPING OF THE
PALMS. AT THE VERY TOP OF THE PAGE, BY
GROUPING THE SAME SO AS TO CREATE THE EQUIVALENT OF A CROWN
SPREAD OF 15 FEET. SO THAT WOULD BE RIGHT THERE.
I BELIEVE THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERN.
I HAVE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT NUMBER 15.
AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSION YESTERDAY, I THINK WE
SELECTED 200 ARBITRARILY LAST YEAR AND I WAS THE ONE WHO SAID
NO MORE THAN 200. SO I APPRECIATE MR. GALLAGHER'S
CONCERNS, AND I'M NOT INTERESTED AT THIS POINT IN GOING ABOVE THE
200. BUT MY QUESTION IS, AS OPPOSED
AS I AM TO MODIFYING THESE LINE ITEMS FROM THE DAIS, WHAT IS
YOUR OPINION OF REMOVING THAT LINE ITEM VERSUS TRYING TO AMEND
IT HERE? IS IT BETTER TO REMOVE NUMBER 15
IF WE CAN'T SUPPORT IT AS IS OR IS IT BETTER TO NEGOTIATE
CHANGES? >>Ryan Chapdelain: IT'S
CERTAINLY YOUR PLEASURE. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM IF IT IS
REMOVED. THAT'S CERTAINLY FINE.
. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: WHILE I
APPRECIATE MR. GALLAGHER'S INPUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE
BETTER FOR HIM TO WORK WITH YOU AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING,
ALTERNATIVE TO PROPOSE RATHER THAN US COMING UP WITH SOMETHING
HERE. IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
>>Briana Dobbs: IT DOES. THANK YOU.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SO ON PAGE 27 FOR NUMBER 8, AGAIN WITH THE
CANOPY TREE AND THE UNDERSTORY TREE, CAN YOU SHOW ME IN HERE
THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THEY SHOULD TRY FOR A CANOPY TREE AND
IF NOT, UNDERSTORY IS ALLOWED AND WE'LL ASK THEM TO TRY FOR A
CANOPY TREE? >>Ryan Chapdelain: I'LL READ IT.
FOR EACH FRONT ZONING LOT LINE LESS THAN 30 FEET IN LENGTH ONE
CANOPY TREE IS THE REQUIREMENT. UNDERSTORY TREE MAY BE PLANTED
WHEN A CANOPY TREE IS NOT FEASIBLE.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: IS THERE A THRESHOLD OR A DEFINITION OF
WHEN NOT FEASIBLE. THEY COULD SAY IT'S NOT
FEASIBLE. >>Ryan Chapdelain: THEY NEED TO
DEMONSTRATE AS TO THE REASONS WHY IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE.
>> THEY WOULD DO THAT THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS LIKE DRC.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: IN THE ZONING CODE, IT IS VERY SPECIFIC.
THERE IS A NUMBER THEY HAVE TO TRY, THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE,
THIS HE HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE TRIED ALTERNATE DESIGNS TO
NOT TAKE DOWN A CANOPY TREE. I KNOW THAT.
BUT WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR CODE ALREADY THAT SAYS IF A GRANT
TREE TAKES UP 25% OF THE LOT COVERAGE OR MORE, THEN THERE IS
A PROCESS TO APPLY TO HAVE THE TREE REMOVED.
BUT AS A LAST RESORT AND THEY DO HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE
TRIED ALTERNATE DESIGNS AND THERE'S NO WORKING AROUND THAT
GRAND TREE. SO WE HAVE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS TO
THE DEVELOPERS, YOU MUST TRY TO KEEP A GRAND TREE AND WORK
AROUND IT. IF YOU CAN'T, YOU HAVE TO SHOW
US THAT YOU HAVE TRIED. FOR ME, I DON'T THINK THE
LANGUAGE IS STRONG ENOUGH IN HERE TO SAY YOU MUST TRY WHEN
YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR TOWNHOME, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT'S
DESIGNED FOR, YOU MUST TRY TO PLAN YOUR TOWNHOME AROUND A
GRAND TREE. IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THEN YOU
MUST SHOW US THAT SOMEHOW AND THEN YOU WILL BE ALLOWED FOR AN
UNDERSTORY TREE. THAT'S NOT MAKING ANY SENSE.
>>Kyle Battie: THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, IT HAS TO
BE DEMONSTRATED, THAT GRAND TREE IS NOT FEASIBLE, WOULDN'T FIT,
WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS AND YOU CAN GO TO AN UNDERSTORY
TREE. WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU ALL, YOU
SAID THAT A LOT OF IT WOULD HAVE TO COME DOWN TO BASICALLY IF
THIS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TREE ITSELF IN TERMS OF ITS
ROOTS, THE LIFE OF THE TREE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT WOULD APPLY TO THE VERY
LOGIC WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT A
GRAND TREE IS NOT FEASIBLE OR IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THAT SIZE OR
WHAT HAVE YOU. AM I CORRECT?
MY APOLOGIES. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I SOLICITED
SOME INPUT ON THIS. BECAUSE I COULD BE READING THIS
WRONG. MAYBE IN A 30-FOOT LOT, WHEN
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TOWNHOMES, GRAND TREES SHOULD NEVER BE
CONSIDERED. MAYBE WE SHOULD SAY THEY ARE
NEVER ALLOWED BECAUSE THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH SPACE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, MAYBE THAT IS THE DISCUSSION WE SHOULD BE
HAVING. IF WE WANT TOWNHOMES WITH GRAND
TREES, IF THAT IS ACTUALLY A REALITY THAT CAN HAPPEN, AND YOU
HAVE A BLANK SLATE, LIKE A LOT THAT'S COMPLETELY EMPTY AND YOU
SAY I WANT TO BUILD A TOWNHOME, WELL, THE TREE WILL TAKE UP THIS
MUCH IF IT'S GOING TO BE A GRAND TREE.
THIS LEAVES YOU THIS MUCH FOR A TOWNHOME.
IF YOU SAY TO THEM YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A GRAND TREE.
YOU COULD HAVE AN UNDERSTORY TREE INSTEAD AND UNDERSTORY TREE
TAKES UP THIS MUCH, THAT MEANS YOUR TOWNHOME IS THREE TIMES THE
SIZE, WELL, WHO WOULDN'T CHOOSE THAT?
WE DON'T WANT UNHEALTHY TREES TO BE PLANTED.
WE DON'T WANT THEM COMING DOWN EVERY SEVEN YEARS, WHAT WE HOPE
TO BE A GRAND TREE TURNS INTO NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNDERSTORY
TREE BEFORE WE HAVE TO KILL IT. I GUESS THAT'S MY CONFUSION, IF
WE'RE HOPING FOR GRAND TREES AND WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE THAT,
LET'S ENCOURAGE THAT AND ENCOURAGE CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
TO ALLOW FOR A GRAND TREE TO GROW AND DEVELOP AND BECOME.
AND IF THAT'S NEVER A POSSIBILITY, WHY DO WE ALLOW IT
IN THE FIRST PLACE? >>Ryan Chapdelain: WHAT WENT
BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD WAS JUST THAT, ALLOWING THE
UNDERSTORY TREE AND NOT HAVING THE CANOPY TREE.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A COMPROMISE APPROACH BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED
AT THE PLANNING BOARD. I THINK STAFF WOULD BE FINE IF
YOU WANTED TO JUST GO UNDERSTORY TREE TO PREVENT ANY OF THE
CONFLICTS IN THE FUTURE ON NARROW LOTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: MAYBE THE
ARBORIST CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.
ON THESE LOTS, COULD A GRAND TREE NEVER SURVIVE?
>> SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING -- THERE ARE ONLY FOUR SPECIES THAT
ARE GRAND TREES. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: FOR THE CITY
OF SARASOTA, YES. >> THEY ARE PROPOSING THERE ARE
SEVERAL UNDERSTORY TREES YOU CAN USE AND SEVERAL BENEFITS WITHIN
A LOT THIS SMALL. I HAVE SOME WRITTEN DOWN.
SMALLER ROOT SYSTEMS REDUCE IMPACT ON THE UNDERGROUND
UTILITIES, FOUNDATION, SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS, ASPHALT AND
CONCRETE BECAUSE IT'S LESS REPAIR WHEN YOU HAVE SHADE TREES
OR UNDERSTORY AND SHADE TREES. COMMUNITY CHARACTER.
IT CREATES A QUAINT, WELL-CONNECTED ATMOSPHERE.
IT MAINTAINS PROPORTIONAL SCALE WITH NARROW LOTS AND MODEST
HOMES. IT HELPS WITH STORMWATER
RECHARGE, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS STORM RESILIENCE, SAFER
DURING HIGH-WIND EVENTS, LESS ROOT, REDUCES RISK OF UPROOTING
TREES. AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
OFFERS THE SAME ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AS LARGER TREES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SEQUESTER CARBON, PROVIDE SHADE AND LOWERS
HEAT INDEX. ALSO, THE RIGHT TREE, RIGHT
PLACE SECTION, 7309 OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA ZONING CODE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE, I THINK. >>Mayor Alpert: YOU HAD
SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD SO YOU COULD CLARIFY THIS
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GRAND TREE REMOVAL HERE.
>> ALISON CHRISTIE, GENERAL MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I DID WANT TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE STATEMENTS MADE THAT, YEAH,
CANOPY TREES AND GRAND TREES, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THIS IS SPEAKING TO CANOPY TREES.
AS RYAN SAID, I THINK IT IS A COMPROMISE.
THE GOAL OF THE LANGUAGE WAS TO COMPROMISE.
WE DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE CANOPY TREES, BUT WHERE IT'S NOT
FEASIBLE THEN WE WOULD ALLOW THE UNDERSTORY.
THE LANGUAGE IS NOT THE SAME AS WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IN THE
GRAND TREE REMOVAL SECTION, BUT IT GETS TO THE SAME POINT.
THE 25% FOR GRAND TREE REMOVAL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US THE
ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS. THEY JUST HAVE TO GIVE US THE
SQUARE FOOTAGE AND DEMONSTRATE THE 25% OF THE BUILDABLE AREA OR
PARKING AREA IS RENDERED UNUSABLE BY THE TREE.
SO THERE IS A MONETARY -- NOT A MONETARY BUT NUMERICAL VALUE
THERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN THIS LANGUAGE.
BUT IT STILL HAS TO BE DEMONSTRATED TO US BY THE
APPLICANT THAT IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, THAT IT WON'T WORK.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THAT'S MY POINT.
YOU FEEL LIKE THE LANGUAGE HERE REQUIRES IT TO BE DEMONSTRATED
BY THE APPLICANT IF THEY CANNOT PUT IN A GRAND TREE.
FOR CLARITY, I'M NOT CONFUSING GRAND TREES AND CANOPY TREES.
I WANT TO SAY THE LANGUAGE EXISTS IN THE CODE TO HOLD THE
APPLICANT ACCOUNTABLE TO PROVE IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION.
I WAS NOT MIXING THE TWO. I WAS SAYING WE HAVE LANGUAGE
THAT HOLDS APPLICANTS ACCOUNTABLE.
COULD WE HAVE LANGUAGE IN HERE ALSO TO HOLD APPLICANTS
ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE ARE WE ENCOURAGING GRAND TREES?
IF WE ARE, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE.
IF NOT, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T. >>Mayor Alpert: THAT'S YOUR
TIME. COMMISSIONER BATTIE, YOU'RE NOT
SIGNED UP. >>Kyle Battie: NO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: I HAVEN'T
WEIGHED IN YET, SO I'LL TALK ABOUT NUMBER 8, THE TREE ISSUE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AND KEPT IN
MIND IS THAT THERE ARE SETBACK STANDARDS.
YOU CAN'T REQUIRE THEM NOT TO USE THE SETBACK STANDARDS, IF
THE SETBACK IS NARROW, AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD UP TO A
CERTAIN POINT, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN THEN SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO LET YOU USE THAT SETBACK THAT YOU'VE GOT TO SET
BACK FURTHER BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A CANOPY TREE PLANTED FOR A
TREE THAT HAS NOT BEEN PLANTED YET.
BY CHANGING THAT BY SAYING YOU CAN DO A DIFFERENT KIND OF TREE,
BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ALLOWED TO BUILD IN THE
BUILDABLE AREA THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD ACCORDING TO
OUR ZONING CODE. FOR ME, I THINK NUMBER 8 COVERS
THAT SITUATION WHICH THEN SAYS IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, THEN WE PUT
IN ANOTHER TREE THAT IS ALSO VALUABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND
FOR GREEN IN OUR CITY. THEN I WANT TO GO TO ITEM 15
THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AS WELL. I GET THE VICE MAYOR'S POINT
ABOUT LEGISLATING FROM HERE WHEN WE AREN'T EXPERTS.
I THINK THE FACT THAT WE PICKED 200 FEET OUT OF THE AIR, WE
AREN'T ARCHITECTS. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE
THINGS. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY
PEOPLE WHO DO UNDERSTAND DESIGN AND DO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NEEDED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE LUDICROUS TO MAKE TWO BUILDINGS AND CREATE A
TEN-FOOT ALLEY BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT
ATTRACTIVE. SO ONE BUILDING WITH A SETBACK,
MAYBE 300 IS THE RIGHT NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ALL OF THE BUILDINGS THAT MR. GALLAGHER TALKED ABOUT ARE
ALL REALLY ATTRACTIVE BUILDINGS AND DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE
WALKABILITY OF THE CITY. I THINK A 200 LIMIT IS WAY TOO
SHORT. I'M FOR MOVING IT UP OR NOT EVEN
HAVING A LIMIT. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO TO VICE MAYOR TRICE. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: SINCE YOU
JUST MENTIONED THE LONG BUILDINGS, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES
IN ONE OF THOSE LONG BUILDINGS AND HAS TO WALK THAT LONG, LONG,
UNBROKEN UP BLOCK REGULARLY, I THINK THEY ARE TOO LONG.
AND MY OTHER CONCERN WOULD BE IF WE INCREASE THE BY RIGHT LENGTH,
OKAY, SO WE PUT ONE BUILDING IS PUT HERE.
AT SOME POINT, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO COME ALONG AND PUT
ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NEXT TO IT BY RIGHT.
SO WE WILL END UP WITH THOSE CORRIDORS LOOKING LIKE MIDNIGHT
PASS ROAD WITH WALLS, THE LENGTH OF THE ROAD.
SO I THINK HAVING ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE A BETTER APPROACH AND
I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS CAN WORK WITH MR. GALLAGHER AND
OTHERS TO COME UP WITH WHAT MIGHT BE BETTER.
MR. GALLAGHER, I ALSO LIVE IN A SINGLE BUILDING WHICH
FORTUNATELY HAS TWO ELEVATORS, ONE ON EACH END.
I WOULD HATE HAVING ONE ELEVATOR AND I HAVE TO WALK A BLOCK TO
GET IT EVERY TIME I WANT TO USE THE ELEVATOR.
I WANT TO GET TO 8 AND QUESTIONS FOR OUR ARBORIST ON THE TREES.
I'M IMAGINING WITH TOWN HOUSE DEVELOPMENTS, THERE WILL BE,
SAY, I'M GOING TO USE THE NUMBER 6, 30-FOOT WIDE HOUSES BECAUSE
THAT'S UNDER 200 FEET. SUPPOSE WE HAD A TOWN HOUSE
DEVELOPMENT THAT APPLIED AND IT WAS 6 30-FOOT WIDE HOMES OR
PLOTS. WOULD WE UNDER NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCE HAVE THE DEVELOPER SAYING, WELL, EACH HOUSE IS
GOING TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF TREE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, 30 FEET APART CANOPY TREES, MIGHT YOU
SUGGEST THAT'S TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND MIGHT YOU THEN EVEN
BE RECOMMENDING THAT UNDERSTORY TREES WOULD BE A BETTER THING.
>> CANOPY TREES ARE NORMALLY 30 FEET ON CENTER.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: OKAY. IF IT WAS 30 FEET, BUT IF -- CAN
THEY DO LESS THAN 30 FEET FOR TOWN HOUSE WIDTH?
>> THEY CAN REDUCE I THINK TO 20 FEET.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: IF IT WAS 20 FEET, THEN YOU WOULD RECOMMEND
AGAINST THE CANOPY TREE. >> DEFINITELY.
I WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST THE 30 FEET, TOO.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: SO OUR ARBORIST WOULD BE RECOMMENDING
AGAINST WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE ZONING.
THAT LEADS ME TO THINK THAT GOING FOR THE CHANGE FOR
UNDERSTORY TREES IS MORE -- IT'S BENEFICIAL.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. NEEDED CLARIFICATION.
THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER BATTIE. >>Kyle Battie: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING OR WHAT HAVE YOU, I THINK ONE OF
THE MORE IMPORTANT STATEMENTS THAT WAS MADE WAS THAT WE ARE
NOT EXPERTS. WE'RE NOT.
PART OF ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE SEEN WITH THIS CITY FROM
JUMP STREET IS THERE WAS NO REAL URBAN PLANNING.
A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WAS BUILT IN PRIOR COMMISSIONS,
BUILT BY THE COMMISSIONS, NOT BY WHATEVER PROJECTIONS, WHAT THE
CITY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT TO THE VICE
MAYOR'S POINT AND TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE LIKE
BUILDING LENGTH RIGHT HERE AT THE DAIS OR WHAT HAVE YOU
WITHOUT ANY REAL COMPREHENSIVE AND IN-DEPTH STUDY, BECAUSE THAT
SPEAKS TO WHAT THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE, PARTICULARLY
TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THAT'S MORE OR LESS A STATEMENT THAN ASKING QUESTIONS OR
ANYTHING BECAUSE I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE A BIT MORE MINDFUL OF
WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BEING REMOVED OR WHAT HAVE YOU
AND BEING LOOKED INTO A BIT MORE WITH A MICROPHONE, IF YOU WILL,
SPEAKING TO ARCHITECTS AND DEVELOPERS AND CITY PLANNERS TO
TRY AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS APPLICABLE TO WHERE WE
ARE TODAY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE TOMORROW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET BACK HERE,
RIGHT? I JUST WANTED CLARITY, AND I
THINK I HAVE IT, THAT ALL CANOPY TREES ARE NOT GRAND TREES.
>> THIS IS CORRECT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: OKAY.
THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.
>>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: IN THIS TOWNHOME WITH THE 30-FOOT LOTS,
COULD TWO LOTS COMBINE AND THEN PUT A TREE IN THE MIDDLE, FOR
EXAMPLE? >>Ryan Chapdelain: GENERALLY
NOT. THESE ARE GOING TO BE FEE SIMPLE
LOTS. THEY CAN BE LESS THAN 30 FEET.
IT IS A STANDARD WE PUT IN THERE.
BUT CAN BE 20, 25 FEET IN WIDTH. GENERALLY THEY ARE INDIVIDUALLY
OWNED LOTS. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: WOULD THAT BE
A POSSIBILITY, LET'S SAY TWO PEOPLE BOUGHT THEM AND SAID
WE'RE BEST FRIENDS AND WE WOULD LIKE ONE GINORMOUS CANOPY TREE
AND WE'LL PUT IT MOSTLY ON THIS PERSON'S, ON RYAN'S LOT.
THE TREE WILL GROW AND BE A BEAUTIFUL GRAND TREE OR CANOPY
TREE OVER BOTH OUR LOTS, WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO THE RATIO OF
CANOPY TREE, UNDERSTORY TREE? WOULD THAT WORK TOGETHER?
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: I THINK GENERALLY WOULD BE ON THE
INDIVIDUAL'S LOT. A LOT OF THIS IS DESIGNED PRIOR
TO THESE UNITS EVER SELLING. NOT SURE WHO THE END USER IS BY
THE TIME GOING THROUGH THE DRC PROCESS.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THAT WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A
CANOPY TREE AND AN UNDERSTORY TREE AND THEY COULD LIVE
TOGETHER AND MAKE LOTS OF SHADE. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DRAFTED AS IT IS RIGHT NOW FOR THIS ITEM?
>>Ryan Chapdelain: BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD AT THE PLANNING BOARD
AND TODAY, WE THINK IT IS A FAIR COMPROMISE.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: OKAY. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT
REMOVING ITEM 15 FOR TODAY SINCE, AGAIN, WE AREN'T EXPERTS
AND GIVE THIS A LITTLE MORE CONSIDERATION?
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: WOULD WE NEED CONSENSUS OR A VOTE ON
REMOVING ITEM 15? >>Mayor Alpert: PROBABLY NEED A
MOTION. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I MOVE THAT
WE APPROVE THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT BATCH MINUS NUMBER 15
DEALING WITH THE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL SECOND THAT.
>>Mayor Alpert: MAKER OF THE MOTION, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO
THAT? >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I THINK
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD EXCEPT, AND I APPRECIATE THE ARCHITECT'S
SUGGESTION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH A LONGER
BUILDING, YET I WOULD HATE TO ENABLE THAT BY RIGHT AND THEN AS
WE DISCOVERED DURING INFILL, IF WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS, THE
LEGISLATURE REALLY WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CLAW BACK
THOSE CHANGES. BECAUSE WITH THE 25% ADJUSTMENT
ADMINISTRATIVELY, THAT WOULD ENABLE 250 FEET ON OUR CURRENT
ZONING LAW OF 200, I THINK AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'RE
IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION.
>>Shayla Griggs: MAYOR, CAN YOU STATE THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING BEFORE WE GO DOWN THAT. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: COULD YOU
REPEAT THE MOTION? I'M SORRY.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE 25-5583
AND PETITION 25-ZTA-01 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 15.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: AND ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER 15
IN A SEPARATE MOTION? >>Vice-Mayor Trice: NO.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: IT JUST GETS REMOVED COMPLETELY.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL SPEAK TO THE MOTION.
I THINK STAFF DID A GREAT JOB ON ALL OF THESE AND PROVIDING US
WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED AND EXPLAINING THE
RATIONALE, CROSSED ALL THEIR Ts AND DOTTED ALL THEIR Is.
FOR ITEM NUMBER 15, I UNDERSTAND WE ARE NOT EXPERTS.
WE ARE NOT THE EXPERT AND THERE ARE EXPERTS, AND THEY ARE ALSO
NOT THE EXPERT ON EVERYTHING CITY, BUT WE ARE INFORMED AND WE
DO HAVE INFORMATION AND A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A VERY,
VERY LONG TIME. WE ARE NOT INCAPABLE OF MAKING
DECISIONS THAT GOVERN HOW OUR CITY MOVES AND GROWS AND MOVES
FORWARD. WE'RE ABLE TO READ E-MAILS AND
BOOKS. AND I WOULD HAVE QUOTED MY JEFF
SPECK BOOK BUT I LENT IT TO THAXTON IN THE AUDIENCE -- LET
ME KNOW FOR THE RECORD HE SAID IT'S IN THE CAR.
>>Joseph Polzak: SPD IS HERE. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I JUST MAY.
THAT ONE ITEM I AGREE THAT ONE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.
I SUPPORT THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE?
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WOULD
VOTE, PLEASE. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES.
>>Mayor Alpert: YES. >>Kyle Battie: YES.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: YES. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: YES.
>>Mayor Alpert: IS THAT YOUR VOTE, COMMISSIONERS?
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. TO BRING BACK ITEM NUMBER 15 OR
TO SEND IT TO STAFF TO REVIEW FURTHER FOR MAYBE THINGS LIKE
REQUIRING AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET THAT THERE BE SOME KIND
OF A SETBACK OR SOMETHING TO THEN BREAK UP -- DO WE NEED A
MOTION -- >>Shayla Griggs: YOU CAN DISCUSS
IT. >>Mayor Alpert: LET STAFF WORK
ON IT. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: BRING IT
BACK IN THE NEXT SET OF BATCH OF ZTAs.
>>Mayor Alpert: OR IF THEY GET DONE SOONER THEY CAN BRING IT
BACK. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I DON'T WANT
TO SEE IT COME BACK. LET'S BE CAREFUL WHAT WE DO
HERE. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'M
COMFORTABLE WITH STAFF HAS HEARD OUR CONCERNS.
MR. GALLAGHER IS VOCAL SO LET THEM WORK IT OUT.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I AGREE WITH THAT.
>>Shayla Griggs: ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT?
INTERIM CITY MANAGER, DO YOU NEED ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT?
>>Dave Bullock: NO, MA'AM. WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Kyle Battie: IT'S JUST CONSENSUS.
>>Shayla Griggs: IF SHE'S NOT AGREEING, WE NEED A MOTION.
>>Mayor Alpert: PASS THE GAVEL. I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT ITEM 15,
THAT STAFF TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND WORK ON IT WITH THE
RELEVANT PARTIES IN THIS CASE AND BRING IT BACK TO US, EITHER
THEY CAN BRING IT BACK AND SAY WE'LL KEEP IT 200 FEET OR ADD TO
IT OR ADD SETBACKS, WHATEVER IT IS.
MY MOTION IS THAT WE SEND IT BACK TO STAFF TO BRING IT BACK
TO US FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND DISCUSSION.
>>Kyle Battie: I SECOND. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: MOTION BY
MAYOR ALPERT AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BATTIE TO ASK STAFF
TO LOOK AT NUMBER 15 AND BRING BACK THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
>>Mayor Alpert: I THINK I SPOKE TO IT ALREADY.
>>Kyle Battie: I'LL SPEAK TO IT. THE MERE FACT THAT TALKING ABOUT
US BEING EXPERTS OR NOT BEING EXPERTS AND THEM BEING EXPERTS
AND NOT BEING EXPERTS, THEY ARE HIRED BECAUSE OF THEIR
EXPERTISE. THAT'S WHY THEY WORK FOR THE
CITY IN THIS RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN WE SAY THE COMMISSION IS NOT EXPERTS OR WHATEVER, OR ARE
EXPERTS, JUST AS A CITIZEN, A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, GREW UP IN
THE CITY, THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN THIS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT EXPERTS.
YOU HAVE ALL THE HEIGHT ON THE WATER AND NOT IN THE CORE OF THE
CITY BECAUSE KNOW WHAT, WE'RE NOT EXPERTS.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I RELY ON OUR STAFF AND THOSE THAT ARE
EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: ANYBODY ELSE
BEFORE WE VOTE? OKAY.
SO WE'RE VOTING. >>Shayla Griggs: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: MOTION
PASSES 3-2. IS THAT YOUR VOTE, EVERYONE?
>>Mayor Alpert: YES. >>Kyle Battie: CAN WE TAKE A
BREAK? >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU ALL.
WE ARE AT NEW BUSINESS. DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK?
IT'S 2:51. THAT CLOCK IS WRONG.
LET'S BE BACK AT 3:00. [RECESS]
? ? ?
? ?
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Mayor Alpert: OKAY, EVERYBODY.
I KNOW EVERYONE IS HAVING A REALLY GOOD TIME OUT THERE.
IT'S 3:00, AND WE WANT TO GET STARTED AGAIN HERE.
WHEN WE WENT ON RECESS, WE WERE GETTING READY TO START OUR ITEM
12.1, NEW BUSINESS. AND THAT'S A DISCUSSION
REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS FOR LIGHTING
AND UNDERGROUNDING. I AM GOING TO CALL ON -- IS SHE
HERE? WE WILL CALL ON OUR DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC WORKS, NIK PATEL TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
HE WENT INTO A WHOLE EXPLANATION AT LIDO KEY RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL WAY FOR EVERYBODY TO
REMEMBER YOUR NAME. WE'LL LET YOU -- I THINK YOU
SHOULD DO THAT AGAIN. >>Nik Patel: GOOD AFTERNOON
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS.
I'M NIK PATEL, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR E FOR THE RECORD.
HERE WITH ME TODAY IS. >> SAGI.
I BEG THE INDULGENCE, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY
OF THE NAME. SPELL IT LIKE SAGE.
I THINK MY PARENTS MUST HAVE BEEN HIPPIES AND THEY DECIDED
THAT WAS FUN. I GET TO SPEND MY ENTIRE LIFE
TELLING PEOPLE YOU DON'T PRONOUNCE IT LIKE IT IS SPELLED.
I PRONOUNCE IS SAGE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
WITH THAT, WE'LL JUMP INTO THE PRESENTATION.
I WILL APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF ALVI, SHE REALLY WANTED TO BE
HERE BUT FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GET THE PINCH-HITTING THIS MORNING
INSTEAD OF ALVI THIS AFTERNOON. YES, THIS ITEM IS ABOUT
ESTABLISHING A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS.
REAL QUICKLY, THE AGENDA INCLUDES BACKGROUND COMMUNITY
INTEREST, AREAS OF INTEREST, SPECIFICALLY A COUPLE OF MAPS,
CITY CODE AND STATE STATUTE FRAMEWORK, A SCOPE FOR THE REST
OF TODAY, AND THEN NEXT STEPS AND A RECOMMENDED MOTION.
BACKGROUND AND COMMUNITY INTEREST, FIVE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE
FORMALLY ASKED THE CITY TO EXPLORE SPECIAL DISTRICTS FOR
UNDERGROUNDING OF POWER FOR THE UTILITY POWER.
AND THAT INCLUDES ST. ARMANDS RESIDENTS, LIDO SHORE PROPERTY
OWNER ASSOCIATION, LIDO KEY RESIDENTS, AND ST. ARMANDS
CIRCLE MERCHANTS. THE SECOND SOMEONE LIGHTING,
SOUTH POINSETTIA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS
REQUESTED THAT. EACH GROUP POLLED ITS MEMBERS
AND SUPPORT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 85% TO 98% DEMONSTRATING CLEAR
GRASSROOTS MINIMUM TO ASK FOR THESE.
THE AREAS OF INTEREST FOR SPECIFICALLY UNDERGROUNDING, YOU
CAN SEE ON THE EXHIBIT A, WHICH IS ON YOUR SCREEN AND SHOULD BE
IN YOUR PACKET AS WELL, PURPLE IS THE ST. ARMANDS RESIDENTIAL
CORE. THE ORANGE IS LIDO SHORES.
YELLOW IS LIDO KEY. AND THE TEAL IS THE ST. ARMANDS
BUSINESS CORE. THESE OUTLINES ARE PRELIMINARY,
OF COURSE, AT THIS POINT. REFINE PARCEL LINES DURING
FEASIBILITY AND LEGAL REVIEW. EVERY PARCEL INSIDE HAS
EXPRESSED STRONG INTEREST FOR BURYING UTILITIES FOR
RELIABILITY AND AESTHETICS AS WELL.
AREA INTEREST FOR LIGHTING, EXHIBIT B DISPLAYS PROPOSED
LIGHTING DISTRICTS. SOUTH POINSETTIA PARK AREA,
RESIDENTS SEEK FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING FIXTURES WITH
UNIFORM LED LIGHTING TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER, BOUNDARIES MAY SHIFT SLIGHTLY AFTER THE PHOTOMETRIC
DESIGN AND COST ANALYSIS BUT THE PARCEL IN BLUE IS OUTLINED THAT
THEY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO NIK.
>>Nik Patel: SO THE PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY THE CITY CODE
CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 9. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AREA.
PART OF THE CITY CODE. IT'S ALSO -- THE PROCESS IS ALSO
DICTATED BY THE FLORIDA STATUTES 163.506, WHICH IS NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE FLORIDA STATUTES 170 WHICH
IS THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND FLORIDA STATUTE 197.3632 WHICH
IS THE UNIFORM ASSESSMENT COLLECTION.
THESE ALLOW THE CITY TO LEVY NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS,
WHICH MEANS NO MILLAGE FOR THE CITY AND COLLECT THEM ON THE TAX
BILL. THE COMMISSION SITS AS THE
GOVERNING BOARD FOR EACH DISTRICT.
SO TODAY WE'RE NOT CREATING A DISTRICT OR LEVYING ANY
ASSESSMENTS. WE'RE ASKING CITY COMMISSION TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTERS, SURVEY, AND PETITION RECEIVED, AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO BEGIN FEASIBILITY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK UNDER THE CITY
CODE AND THE STATE STATUTES AND COORDINATE WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ENGAGE A CONSULTANT FOR
PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE FUNDING OPTIONS AND BENEFIT
APPORTIONMENT ANALYSIS, AND DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH THE
DRAFT INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION BEFORE
ANY COSTS ARE ADOPTED. IF AUTHORIZED, STAFF WILL DRAFT
BOTH RESOLUTIONS, REFINE BOUNDARIES AND PRELIMINARY
COSTS, PUBLISH STATUTORY NOTICE AND SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND
PREPARE A FULL ASSESSMENT ROLL AND FUNDING RECOMMENDATION.
THE FUTURE HEARING, THE COMMISSION CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO
ADVANCE TO DESIGN BONDING OR CONSTRUCTION.
SO RECOMMENDED MOTION IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY
INTEREST AND AUTHORIZE CITY STAFF TO PREPARE ALL PROCEDURAL
DOCUMENTS, RETAIN A CONSULTANT AND RETURN WITH INITIAL
ASSESSMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTIONS.
NO ASSESSMENT OR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IS APPROVED TODAY.
THIS SIMPLY GREEN LIGHTS THE DETAIL ANALYSIS AND MAINTAIN THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO REIMBURSE EARLY COSTS ONCE DISTRICTS ARE
FORMED. AND ALSO I WANT TO KIND OF
MANAGE EXPECTATIONS A LITTLE BIT, SPECIFICALLY ON CREATION OF
A SPECIAL DISTRICT. FOR ST. ARMANDS, THE
UNDERGROUNDING AS WELL AS THE LIDO KEY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE
ABOUT FOUR TO SEVEN YEARS IF THE COMMISSION DOES PROCEED IN
CREATING A SPECIAL DISTRICT TO ALL THE WAY TO IMPLEMENTING THE
PROJECT. FOR THE LIGHTING DISTRICT, IT
CAN TAKE ALL THE WAY UP FROM THREE TO FOUR YEARS ROUGHLY TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT IF THE COMMISSION APPROVES MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE SPECIAL DISTRICT.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>>Mayor Alpert: WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK SO
WE'LL DO THAT FIRST AND THEN COME BACK TO QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO DIVIDE THIS UP AND BRING -- AND START WITH -- ONLY
FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP. BUT THE FIRST FOUR ARE HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE SPECIAL UNDERGROUNDING, AND THEN THE
SOUTH POINSETTIA ISSUE. CHRIS GO LEAH.
DENNIS BENEFICIARY COULD HAVE. CARL SHOFFSTALL.
BOB KELLY. ALAN PARISSER.
WHEN I CALL ON YOU, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU ARE A CITY
RESIDENT. WE'LL START WITH MR. GOGLIA.
>> CHRIS GOGLIA. PRESIDENT ST. ARMANDS
ASSOCIATION. YES, I AM A CITY RESIDENT.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
A MAJORITY OF MY CAREER WAS SPENT IN WHAT'S CALLED MARKETING
RESEARCH DOING SURVEYS. WE HAVE A SAYING IN MARKETING
RESEARCH, THAT SAYING IS, EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS A
TRADE-OFF. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IF YOU
ASK A THOUSAND PEOPLE, WOULD YOU LIKE THE CITY TO BURY YOUR POWER
LINES, A THOUSAND PEOPLE WOULD SAY, YEAH.
BUT IF YOU TOLD THOSE SAME THOUSAND PEOPLE, WELL, YOU GOT
TO HAVE A METAL BOX ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE
AND YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT, ALL THOSE THOUSAND PEOPLE MIGHT
NOT SAY YES ANYMORE. WE ASKED OUR RESIDENTS IN THIS
YEAR AFTER THE TWO HURRICANES PUT US UNDERWATER, KNOWING THIS,
THAT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS
DONE, WOULD YOU LIKE THE CITY TO PROCEED WITH BURYING POWER
LINES? WE HAD A HUGE RESPONSE RATE IN
OUR ANNUAL SURVEY, 87% SAID, YES, WE WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO
DO THIS. WHEN WE LOOK AT JUST THE SURVEY
RESPONDENTS WHO INDICATED THAT THEY ALSO VOTE IN SARASOTA,
WHICH MEANS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE IS HERE IN SARASOTA,
THE NUMBER INCREASES FROM 85% TO -- BASED ON THE DATA, THE
ST. ARMANDS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVE AND WE ASK YOU TO
PLEASE APPROVE IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
DENNIS. >> MY NAME IS DENNIS BISHOFF.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY. I REPRESENT HOMEOWNERS OF LIDO
SHORES. I THINK THE KEYWORD HERE IS
RESILIENCY. LIDO SHORES, LIDO KEY,
ST. ARMANDS ARE ON A FRAGILE BARRIER ISLAND.
FAR MORE SUBJECT TO MOTHER NATURE AND TO HAVE POWER LINES
UNDERGROUND IS OBVIOUS AND SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR THE
HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES, FOR THE CITY OF SARASOTA, AND FLORIDA
POWER AND LIGHT. IN FACT, FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT
SHOULD BE THRILLED. 14 TIMES BETTER PERFORMANCE,
REDUCING REPAIR TIME AND COSTS LONG TERM.
LIDO SHORES PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARD UNANIMOUSLY
SUPPORTS AND REQUESTS THE CITY OF SARASOTA TO PROCEED WITH THIS
PROJECT TO BURY THE POWER LINES AND COMMUNICATION LINES ON LIDO
SHORES, ST. ARMANDS, AND LIDO KEY.
WE BELIEVE THIS WILL IMPROVE SAFETY, RESILIENCY AND
AESTHETICS. LIDO SHORES PROPERTY OWNERS
BOARD HAS DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE TOPIC.
WE REVIEWED THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER BARRIER ISLANDS.
FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE EXPERIENCES OF MANY OF
OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAD EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES IN PRIOR YEAR
STORMS. I PERSONALLY LOST POWER IN EVERY
STORM SINCE LIVING IN LIDO SHORES SINCE 2002.
WITH FIVE DAYS LOSS OF POWER FROM IAN AND SEVEN DAYS LOSS
FROM THE LAST PAST YEAR'S STORMS.
IN A RECENT SURVEY, THE MAJORITY OF LIDO SHORES HOUSEHOLDS
RESPONDED AND 97% RESPONDED -- RESPONDENTS VOTED, YES, THEY ARE
IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT PROCEEDING.
UNDERGROUNDING UTILITIES HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED ON NEARBY
BIRD KEY, LONGBOAT KEY, JOHN RINGLING BOULEVARD FROM THE CITY
TO ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE AND SINGLE RESIDENTIAL STREET ON
ST. ARMANDS KEY. OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE INDICATED
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO FINISH THE JOB.
AND ARE WILLING TO FUND THIS INVESTMENT THEM THIS.
IN FACT, HOWARD ROOK, GOD REST HIS SOUL, WAS INVESTIGATING THIS
WAY BACK, FOR LIDO SHORES WAY BACK IN 2016.
AT NINE YEARS AND SEVERAL STORMS LATER, WE HOPE THE PROJECT CAN
COMMENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. KARL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE AT THE DAIS.
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.
NICE. EVERYBODY IS LOOKING GOOD.
I'M CARL SHOFFSTALL, 129 TYLER DRIVE, LIDO KEY.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OUT THERE FOR 22 YEARS NOW.
AND ON SATURDAY, WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE SEASON.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS THAT DID COME OUT.
STAFF DID A NICE PRESENTATION. THESE PEOPLE UP HERE WERE ALL
HERE, AND WE HAD THE MAYOR OF LONGBOAT KEY COME UP AND SPEAK
ABOUT THEY HAD JUST DONE THE UNDERGROUNDING AND GAVE US SOME
VERY, VERY INSIGHTFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT WENT ON.
I TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN ROBERT TAYLOR COMPLEX WAS OPENED ABOUT
COMING OUT TO LIDO AND START UNDERGROUNDING UTILITIES AND THE
CABLE, OVERHEAD WIRES AND STUFF. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT WELL, I
DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALL THAT NECESSARY, BUT OVER THE YEARS IN
THIS LAST STORM, WE WERE DEVASTATED.
I LOST EVERYTHING OR MY WIFE AND I LOST EVERYTHING AND WE MOVED
OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, GOT IT REBUILT, NO PROBLEM.
WE'RE BACK. BUT IT IS NOW TIME AS ALL OF
THESE GENTLEMEN UP HERE SAID, WE DID THE SURVEYS OUT AT OUR PLACE
ON LIDO, AND EVERYBODY IS IN FAVOR OF DOING IT.
WE'RE IN FAVOR OF PAYING FOR IT, WHICH HELPS EVERYBODY, BUT IT'S
TIME TO GET IT MOVING. AGAIN, YOUR STAFF SAID ABOUT
FOUR TO SEVEN YEARS. WE NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN A
LITTLE FASTER THAN THIS. I WOULD HOPE EVERYBODY, BECAUSE
YOU'LL GET IT FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY.
IT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY COME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE
UNDERGROUNDING WITH UTILITIES. LET'S GET IT DONE, GANG.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. BOB.
>> HI, EVERYONE. I'M BOB KELLY.
I LIVE ON ST. ARMANDS. KEY.
I LIVED THERE FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION OF
ST. ARMANDS. I AM A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF
THE MERCHANTS BOARD AS WELL. I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOTH
AREAS. I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THE
NUMBERS AND YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US,
ST. ARMANDS ALONE, WE HAD 200 HOMES AND PROBABLY AFTER THE
STORMS, HALF OF THEM OR MORE WERE UNINHABITABLE.
WE HAVE 150 BUSINESSES. A LOT OF THEM HAVE COME BACK.
A LOT OF THEM ARE GONE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY
STOREFRONTS, STILL. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT POWER IS DEFINITELY A BIG PART
OF IT. THE REALITY IS YOU CAN'T LIVE,
WORK, OR REPAIR ANYTHING WITHOUT POWER.
THE THING THAT WE REALLY LEARNED SUBSEQUENT TO THE STORM IS THOSE
LOCATIONS THAT DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BURYING THEIR POWER LINES
BEFORE OR IN THE PAST, LIKE LONGBOAT KEY AND BIRD KEY.
THEY CAME BACK SO MUCH QUICKER IF THEY HAD ANY ISSUES AND WE
WERE STUCK WITHOUT POWER, WITHOUT WATER, OTHER THINGS FOR
A LONG TIME. SO BIG PICTURE IS, ALL OF
FLORIDA'S BARRIER ISLANDS HAVE GOT TO BECOME MUCH MORE
RESILIENT. ALL OF THESE POWER LINES SHOULD
BE BURIED OVER TIME, PARTICULARLY OURS FOR A WHOLE
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT REASONS, WHICH I WON'T GO INTO NOW.
BUT WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED. ONE THING ABOUT CHRIS, HE IS
LIKE A FORCE TO BE -- IN DOING SURVEYS.
THE REALITY IS, BACK IN, FOUR FIVE YEARS AGO, MAYBE FIVE, SIX
YEARS AGO, HE HAD THE SAME QUESTIONS ON THE SAME SURVEYS
THAT SAID, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD UNDERGROUND?
IF SO, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT?
I THINK TWO-THIRDS SAID YES. NOW WE'RE AT 87% IN LIGHT OF
WHAT HAPPENED. THE OTHER GREAT THING THAT'S
HAPPENED SINCE WE STARTED TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS AND REALIZING
WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS DONE IS CARL AND DENNIS JUMPED IN AS
WELL VERY QUICKLY. THE MERCHANTS NEED TO GET THIS
DONE AS WELL FOR REASONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN
FOR THE RESIDENTS. SO WE'RE A TEAM HERE AND WE'RE
ALL WORKING TOGETHER. THE REALITY IS WE OVERLAP EACH
OTHER AND WE WORK AND SHOP AND GO TO THE SAME RESTAURANTS AND
THE LIKE. WHAT WE DID DO UP FRONT IS I
HELPED CHRIS A LITTLE BIT BY DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH
ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS AND PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THE WHOLE
THING. IT WAS GREAT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH FPL, LONGBOAT KEY, CONSULTANTS,
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS OF WEST
PALM BEACH AND THE CEO OF ANOTHER MAJOR POWER COMPANY IN
THE COUNTRY. IT JUST MAKES YOU WANT TO DO IT
EVEN FASTER AND BETTER AND QUICKER.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES, FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SAW THE
MAYOR FIRST, SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ALAN.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ALAN PARISSER.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH POINSETTIA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION. OBVIOUSLY, DO I LIVE IN THE CITY
ON CLEMATIS STREET. CAN I TELL YOU I HAVE A VERY
LARGE AND NOT SO ATTRACTIVE STREETLIGHT POLE DIRECTLY IN
FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I FIRST OF ALL WOULD LIKE TO
THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR REVIEWING OUR REQUEST TO
CONSIDER THE IDEA OF A LIGHTING ZONE AND REPLACEMENT OF
STREETLIGHTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BOTH SAFETY AND AESTHETIC
PURPOSES. I WOULD NOTE THAT WE'RE VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD -- I SHOULDN'T SAY ALL, MOST OF THE
POWER LINES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE UNDERGROUNDED BY FPL, ABOUT
FIVE YEARS AGO, AS PART OF A PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND
OF COSTS THEY WOULD BUMP INTO FROM DOING THESE THINGS.
AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN REDUCING THE COSTS OF THEN
REMOVING THE REMAINING WOODEN POLES AND STREETLIGHTS AND
REPLACING THEM WITH MORE MODERN AND MORE ATTRACTIVE POLES.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT REGARD.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR PROBABLY FOUR OR
FIVE YEARS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DID HAVE A SURVEY.
WE HAD A VERY GOOD RESPONSE RATE.
MORE THAN 75% SAID THEY APPROVED DOING THIS KIND OF THING, BUT,
FRANKLY, THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
THEY ARE AWARE THAT IT WILL COST SOME AMOUNT.
OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHAT THE
MAGIC NUMBER IS. WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY REMAIN VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WAITING
TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY -- WHAT WILL IT TAKE FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD'S POINT OF VIEW TO GET THINGS MOVING.
SO I'M LOOKING VERY MUCH FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION'S APPROVAL
TODAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE
THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND SO FORTH.
I THINK THIS WILL BENEFIT NOT JUST THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE
CITY, BECAUSE I THINK THIS CAN BECOME A ROLE MODEL OF HOW TO DO
THINGS IN THE FUTURE. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE FOUND OUT TODAY, ABOUT 50 OF THEM, WHO
HAVE A LIST OF THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO DO, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING IT DONE. THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD ROAD MAP
FOR THEM TO FOLLOW. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS VERY
MUCH SO. I HEARD NIK SAY, THOUGH, IT WILL
TAKE THREE TO FOUR YEARS. THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER
THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED. SO I'M HOPING WE CAN NOT ONLY
APPROVE IT, BUT MAYBE ACCELERATE THE SCHEDULE A BIT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING
US THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.
I SEE COMMISSIONER OHLRICH IS ON THE BOARD.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WERE PRESENT
HERE ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT, AND THEY ACTUALLY WOULD
LIKE US TO ACCELERATE THE PROJECT.
TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ACCELERATING THE PROJECT.
>>Nik Patel: NIK PATEL, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, FOR THE RECORD.
SO ACCELERATION, THE CHALLENGE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, THIS
WEEKEND, THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY SPOKE UP AND
ORIGINALLY THEIR PLAN WAS TO GET IT DONE IN ROUGHLY ABOUT FOUR TO
FIVE YEARS. IT TOOK THEM CLOSE TO SEVEN
YEARS TO GET IT DONE. THE CHALLENGE IS THERE ARE
MULTIPLE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE SOME CHALLENGES TO ACCELERATE.
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S NOT JUST UNDERGROUNDING FPL, BUT IT'S
ALSO UNDERGROUNDING ALL THE OTHER UTILITIES, VERIZON.
YOU HAVE COMCAST. YOU HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT
OTHER FRANCHISEES THAT NEED TO UNDERGROUND.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.
THINK THE WAY THE MAYOR PUT IT WAS THAT WAS AN ADVENTURE OF ITS
OWN, SPECIFICALLY NOT WITH FPL BUT FOR THE OTHER FRANCHISEES.
AND THEN THE OTHER ASPECT IS ALSO YOU HAVE TO GET PUBLIC
EASEMENTS FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THAT TAKES TIME AS WELL.
SURE, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCELERATE
THE PROJECT, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME BARRIERS THAT MAY PRECLUDE
US FROM GETTING THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IS THE CITY THE LEAD AGENCY IN THIS?
>>Nik Patel: THAT'S CORRECT. THE CITY WOULD BE.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK YOU.
ONE MORE QUESTION, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE LANGUAGE THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT IN
ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD AT ANOTHER TIME, RIGHT?
>>Nik Patel: THAT IS CORRECT. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THOSE
ARE MY QUESTIONS. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THANK YOU.
WHO ACTUALLY WOULD BE DOING THE PHYSICAL LABOR AFTER THE
PLANNING AND ALL THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF AND NOW YOU HAVE AN
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, WHO WOULD BE DOING THE LABOR?
>>Nik Patel: FOR THE LIGHTING DISTRICT, THERE'S A MODEL THAT
HAS BEEN DONE BY THE COUNTY. ESSENTIALLY, FPL WOULD BE THE
LEAD ON THAT AS FAR AS PROVIDING THE LIGHTING, DOING THE
ANALYSIS, AND ALSO PROVIDING THE OPTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT LIGHT
POLES FOR THE LIGHTING DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THE
UNDERGROUNDING WOULD HAVE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO WORK OUT
THE EASEMENTS AND WORK WITH FPL, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO PUT A
CONTRACTOR OUT TO BID TO UNDERGROUND.
THERE ARE SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS THAT WORK WITH FPL, AND THEY
WILL BE THE ONES THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY DO THE WORK
ASSOCIATED WITH IT. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THANK YOU.
THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS, AT LEAST FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE
DOING THE WORK, I IMAGINE IT'S A SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE.
IF WE HAVE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE SAYING WE HAVE THE
WHEREWITHAL TO PAY TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE, AND WE HAVE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY THAT ALSO HAVE BEEN ASKING TO BE
UNDERGROUNDED OR HAVE STREET LIGHTING, ARE THEY GOING TO BE
TAKING A BACK SEAT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BECOME A SPECIAL
DISTRICT AND PAY THE MONEY. CAN THERE BE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE
FOR UNDERGROUNDING IN THESE BARRIER ISLANDS THAT ARE WILLING
TO PAY AND ALSO HAVE PARALLEL PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY OR THE POOR NEIGHBORHOODS
GET PUSHED TO THE BACK BECAUSE THE WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS GO OUT
FRONT? >> IF I CAN TAKE A CRACK AT
THAT, MADAM MAYOR. THIS SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH THE
CREATION OF A DISTRICT WHICH HAS VERY DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC
BOUNDARIES. ONE OF THE THINGS, BEFORE I GET
TO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT THE COMMISSION WILL NEED TO
KNOW, ONCE WE HAVE THE COSTS, WHICH WILL BE KNOWN ON A
PER-PROPERTY BASIS, YOU MAY WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT THERE'S
ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO STILL WANT TO DO IT, NOW THAT THEY KNOW THE
COST, IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'LL HAVE THAT QUEUED UP FOR
YOU. WHEN WE DO IT AS A DISTRICT,
WHICH IS THE PRIMARY WAY THIS IS DONE, HAVING DONE THIS ONCE
BEFORE ON A BARRIER ISLAND, SOME FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF IT, WHEN
YOU MOVE OUT OF THAT AND YOU SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, DOES THE CITY
WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE A
POLICY -- YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT,
WHERE THE REVENUE WOULD COME FROM AND SO ON.
THIS ONE WILL REQUIRE THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO PAY AN
ASSESSMENT BASED ON THE BENEFIT DIRECTLY TO THEIR PROPERTY.
IT'S A VERY BENEFIT AND PROPERTY RELATED DETERMINATION OF COSTS.
IF YOU LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL, WE COULD HAVE THE POLICY
DISCUSSIONS AROUND WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS FOR IT.
IN FACT, YOU HEARD ONE EARLIER, FPL HAS DONE -- AND YOU HEARD
FROM THE FPL GENTLEMAN MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO, THEY HAVE DONE VERY,
I CALL THEM LIMITED UNDERGROUNDING BASED ON THEIR
COMPLAINTS AND SO ON. BUT THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH DONE NOW
IN THE LAST THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS THAT THE COSTS ARE PRETTY
WELL KNOWN. THE ONLY VARIATION IS GOING TO
BE HOW DOES IT APPLY TO THE SPECIFIC PROPERTY.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A BENEFIT PAID BY THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THE CITY SETS UP THE DISTRICT, DOES ALL OF THE WORK, DOES THE
CONTRACTING, AS NIK SAID. THERE WOULD BE A BID FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION. WE'LL DO RFP FOR CONSULTANT THAT
HELPS US GET ALL OF THIS ORGANIZED AND UNDERWAY.
AND ALL OF THOSE COSTS GET WRAPPED INTO A FINANCING.
AND THEN PAID FOR OVER TIME BY EACH PROPERTY OWNER.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'M STILL CONCERNED, SO FPL HAS IDENTIFIED
A BLOCK HERE, A BLOCK THERE BASED ON PROBLEMS.
FPL HAS MOVED FORWARD TO UNDERGROUND THERE.
I'M WONDERING IF DOING THESE SPECIAL DISTRICTS WILL ABSORB
ALL THE AVAILABLE, LOCAL LABOR WHO CAN DO THE UNDERGROUNDING SO
THAT THE BLOCK HERE, BLOCK THERE IN SARASOTA THAT HAVE PROBLEMS
BUT ARE NOT IN ONE OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS WILL, SORRY,
WE DON'T HAVE MANPOWER TO FIX YOUR PROBLEM.
>>Dave Bullock: I BELIEVE THERE ARE ENOUGH UNDERGROUNDING
CONTRACTORS OUT THERE. IT'S HARD TO DRIVE VERY FAR IN
THIS STATE AND NOT SEE SOMEONE WITH A DIRECTIONAL BORE MACHINE
BURYING SOME TYPE OF CONDUIT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE
CONTRACTORS OUT THERE. I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY, BUT
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THIS PROJECT ATE UP ALL THE
CONTRACTORS. I CAN'T ENVISION THAT.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: SO I'M WONDERING, DO YOU ANTICIPATE
THAT THE CITY MAY STILL GO TO BAT WITH FPL FOR SOME OF OUR
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH AND NEED
UNDERGROUNDING. >>Dave Bullock: WE'LL BE DEEPLY
ENGAGED WITH FPL ON THIS PROJECT.
WE CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THEIR CRITERIA, THEIR TIMING.
REMEMBER, THEY ARE OPERATING UNDER A PSC MANDATE TO
UNDERGROUND EVERYTHING WITHIN 30 YEARS.
SO THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY TIME DRIVEN.
CERTAINLY NOT AS URGENT AS WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THESE RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES. BUT THEY ARE ON THAT LONG
PROJECT BASED ON THE PSC RULINGS TO UNDERGROUND WITHIN 30 YEARS.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHOSE FPL POLES ARE AT AN ANGLE AND CONTINUE TO
BE AT AN ANGLE AND DON'T WANT THEM PUSHED OFF TEN YEARS
BECAUSE OF THIS. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE APPROVAL PROCESS
NEEDED FOR THIS FROM THIS COMMISSION?
LET'S SAY THE DISTRICT, COME BACK WITH A PLAN.
COST THIS MUCH PER PERSON. THIS IS WHAT -- WHAT TIMELINE.
FROM OUR END, WHAT IS THE APPROVAL PROCESS AS FAR AS
CREATING THE DISTRICT? THREE, SUPERMAJORITY OR FIVE?
>> THREE. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU, BOB.
>>Dave Bullock: THERE WILL BE A FINANCING.
THAT FINANCING WILL COME TO THE COMMISSION IN THE FORM OF A BOND
ISSUE. IT WILL BE DEBT, WHICH IS
PROBABLY BACKED BY, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, COVENANT TO BUDGET AND
APPROPRIATE LEGALLY AVAILABLE NON-AD VALOREM REVENUE, BUT YOU
WILL REPAY IT WITH THE ASSESSMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE
PROPERTIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: WILL THAT
IMPACT OUR BOND RATING AT ALL? >>Dave Bullock: NO, IT WON'T.
I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF IT DID. I SEE NO SCENARIO WHERE THAT
IMPACTS IT. THESE ARE PRETTY STANDARD BONDS.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: CONCEIVABLY, COULD EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
CITY APPLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>>Nik Patel: SURE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET AT LEAST
TWO-THIRDS OR A MAJORITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO AGREE TO
THIS, AND THEN WE CAN DO THE SAME PROCESS FOR THEM AS WELL.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: ON THE EASEMENT SITUATION, WHAT IF AN
EASEMENT IS NOT GRANTED? >>Nik Patel: THERE ARE WAYS TO
WORK AROUND THAT. WE WILL NEED -- SOME PROPERTIES
WILL -- IT IS MORE AN EDUCATION ASPECT OF IT TO EXPLAIN THE NEED
FOR THE EASEMENT. CERTAINLY, A PROPERTY HAS A
RIGHT TO NOT GRANT AN EASEMENT, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN WORK ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS ON THAT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: MR. BULLOCK,
YOU MAY REMEMBER. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT
WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE HUNDRED PERCENT AGREEMENT ON SOMETHING
LIKE THIS AND THEY GOT IT. >>Dave Bullock: NO.
IN LONGBOAT KEY WE DID TWO REFERENDA.
ONE PASSED BY ABOUT 70 PERCENT AND ONE BY ABOUT SOMEWHERE NEAR
60 PERCENT. IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS NOW
EXACTLY. THE COMMISSION SIMPLY SAID
MAJORITY WOULD CARRY THE DAY. YOU DO GET TO SET, YOU ALL HAVE
TO DECIDE TO FORM THE DISTRICT AND THEN INCUR DEBT ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY. YOU DO NEED TO REACH A COMFORT
LEVEL THAT ENOUGH OF THE RESIDENTS WANT TO DO THIS, THEY
NOW KNOW THE COST TO DO THIS, THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO MOVE
FORWARD. YOUR ORDINANCE DOES SET OUT SOME
MINIMUMS, BUT YOU'LL NEED TO EITHER AGREE WITH WHAT'S ALREADY
BEEN SET OUT OR SET NEW MINIMUMS IN ORDER TO GIVE YOURSELVES
COMFORT TO DO IT. BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT
TO DO IS GET 50% OF THE VOTE PLUS ONE PERSON, AND THEN YOU
HAVE 49.9 PERCENT THAT ARE JUST VERY, VERY UPSET BECAUSE THIS IS
AN ASSESSMENT THAT WILL BE ON THEIR PROPERTY BILLS IF THEY
DON'T PAY IT ALL UP FRONT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT COST. THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS
WE CAN BRING FORWARD IN THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE PROCESS IS HOW
YOU WANT TO DO THIS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET
STARTED, TO START THOSE COST ESTIMATES, SO THAT THE RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES, THE PROPERTY OWNERS KNOW OR HAVE A DECENT
IDEA OF WHAT THEIR COSTS WOULD BE.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: MR. PATEL, AT THE PRESENTATION BY MAYOR
SCHNEIDER AT LIDO ON SATURDAY MORNING, ONE THING HE DID SAY
WHICH SHOCKED ME TREMENDOUSLY, BECAUSE I REALLY ALMOST EVERY
HEARD OF THIS, WAS THAT THE COST WAS $6 MILLION LESS THAN THEY
WERE QUOTED OR THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS DUE TO? COULD ANY OF THESE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS EXPECT A SURPRISE LIKE THAT TOO TO BE GIVEN THEM?
>>Dave Bullock: CAN I ANSWER THAT ONE?
AT THE TIME, THE TOWN MANAGER OF LONGBOAT KEY ADDED 15% TO THE
ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE. BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN A
PROJECT THAT DID NOT, COMPLEX, LONG PERIOD OF TIME THAT DID NOT
GO OVER BUDGET. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT
NUMBER WAS, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT'S WHAT HE DID AND THE
PROJECT TURNED OUT NOT TO NEED MOST OF IT.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SO IT WAS OVERESTIMATING.
IT WASN'T THAT THERE WERE ECONOMIES OF SCALE OR THAT THEY
PURCHASED BULK IN SOMETHING. I GUESS NOT.
AND THEN TO THE VICE MAYOR'S OVERARCHING CONCERN, A WHILE AGO
AND MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM FPL CAN SPEAK TO THIS, I WAS AT A
FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES MEETING AND SOMEBODY FROM FPL SAID THAT
THERE ARE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A
NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD WITH UNDERGROUNDING
THEMSELVES AND WOULD TAKE A PORTION OF THE RESPONSIBILITY,
THERE ARE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR PARTIAL FUNDING, BUT YOU HAVE TO
MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE GRANTS
ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT PERHAPS WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT IN THIS
SITUATION THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
>>Nik Patel: YES, WE'LL LOOK INTO THE GRANTS FOR THAT.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
BATTIE. >>Kyle Battie: THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GUESS THIS SPEAKS TO THE VICE
MAYOR'S POINT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING
THESE DISTRICTS OR TIFs, IF YOU WILL, TAKE CARE OF THIS TYPE
OF SITUATION, AND HOW THAT PERTAINS TO AREAS, IT'S OF THE
UTMOST URGENCY OUT ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS.
WE KNOW THAT. AND EVEN AREAS IN THE CITY THAT
FLOODED UP NEAR WHERE I AM, LIKE WHITAKER BAYOU.
SAY IN DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT THREE AND WHATNOT, LET'S KEEP IT
REAL, DISTRICT TWO HAS ALL THE MONEY AND WHATNOT.
DISTRICT ONE DOESN'T NOR DOES DISTRICT THREE.
HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH THOSE DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF THEM
FINDING FUNDING TO GET THESE THINGS DONE?
>>Dave Bullock: I'LL TAKE THAT ONE, TOO, BECAUSE FUNDING IS
KIND OF IN MY ARENA THERE. IT'S NOT AS NEAT AND IT'S NOT AS
CLEAN AS THE CREATION OF A DISTRICT WHERE THE PROPERTY
OWNERS AGREE TO PAY. AND YOU'RE SECURE THAT ONE, THEY
WANT TO DO IT, TWO, THEY JUST MADE THE COMMITMENT AND THERE IS
AN ASSESSMENT PLACED ON THEM. YOU DO HAVE SOME OTHER TOOLS.
I'M NOT SAYING RIGHT OR WRONG, ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST,
CRAs HAVE BEEN USED TO UNDERGROUND IN THE PAST.
IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT. IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENT THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS A METHOD. THE CITY CAN EXPLORE SOME OTHER
METHODS THAT WILL HELP YOU KIND OF WORK THROUGH, POSSIBLY SOME
GRANTS, PROBABLY WON'T MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DENT IN THE OVERALL
COST BUT MIGHT HELP. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE
FEDERAL PROGRAMS MIGHT BE APPLICABLE.
THEY ARE ALL PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND
RESILIENCY, WHICH IS GETTING SOME PRETTY DECENT FUNDING.
I'M SORRY NOT SURE THAT THEY'LL QUALIFY, BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND
OF THINGS THAT I WOULD START TO LOOK AT.
>>Kyle Battie: THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND
WHEN THINKING ABOUT NEWTOWN WAS THE CRA AND HOW THAT FUNDING
WORKS WITH THE CRA. BUT THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS,
CAN I GET A MOTION? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL
MAKE A MOTION, MAYOR. MOVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAKEHOLDER
SUPPORT AND AUTHORIZE CITY STAFF TO CONDUCT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4 AS
INDICATED ON PAGE 2 OF THE AGENDA REQUEST FORM FOR AGENDA
NUMBER 12.1. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER OHLRICH MOVED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT AND AUTHORIZE CITY STAFF TO DO
ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S
RECOMMENDATIONS. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH
SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONERS?
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I THINK WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF DISCUSSION.
>>Mayor Alpert: OKAY. THANK YOU.
IF YOU WILL VOTE. IS THAT YOUR VOTE,
COMMISSIONERS? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW AT ITEM 12.2, NEW
BUSINESS. VERY EXCITING.
THIS IS PLAN FOR THE BAY PARK PHASE 3A AND DESIGN OF 3B BY THE
BAY PARK CONSERVANCY TO BE FINANCED IN THE FUTURE WITH THE
REVENUE PAID UTILIZING THE BAY TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING FUND.
I AM GOING TO CALL UPON AG LAFLEY, COO OF THE BAY PARK
CONSERVANCY, TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL
DAY FOR THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> HANG ON ONE SEC. FIRST, I HAVE TO FIND MY WAY
INTO THE PROGRAM. >>Mayor Alpert: MILES TO THE
RESCUE. >> ALL RIGHT.
JENNIFER. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'M JENNIFER COMPTON. I'M CHAIR OF THE BAY PARK
CONSERVANCY. WITH ME IS AG LAFLEY, OUR
FOUNDING CEO, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU FOR
MAYBE THE NINTH TIME I THINK DOING THIS.
AND MORE ALONG THE WAY. FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY,
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AND SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE
NEXT PHASE OF THE BAY PARK. I'M GOING TO TAKE US FROM THE
PAST TO THE PRESENT. AG WILL TAKE US FROM THE PRESENT
FORWARD. CAN YOU PROJECT IT?
>> I WAS DOING SO WELL. WE'LL GO BACK ONE.
>> THIS IS OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY. WE WILL GO AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE ALREADY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE STARTING POINT AS ALWAYS, WE
KNOW THAT GREAT CITIES HAVE GREAT PARKS.
AND THE BAY PARK AND OUR HUMBLE ESTIMATION IS OUR MILLENNIUM
PARK. IT IS OUR CENTRAL PARK, AND WE
WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE IT THE OUTSTANDING PLACE IT IS AND
COMPLEMENT TO THE CITY PARK SYSTEM.
EVERY BIT OF WORK DONE ON THAT SITE IS DONE AND DRIVEN BY THREE
ENDURING GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN.
THEY INFORM EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AND EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND,
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT'S NOT ATTENDED ONE OF OUR
BOARD MEETINGS TO COME AND LISTEN.
WE TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF ALL THE TIME.
TODAY, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON BLUE AND GREEN OASIS
FOR A PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE BEGINNING, FOR THOSE
OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE,
GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SARASOTA BAYFRONT PLANNING
ORGANIZATION. THAT WAS THE ENTITY THAT CAME ON
THE HEELS OF BAYFRONT 2020 AND A COUPLE OF ANOTHER INITIATIVES
THAT WAS THE SEEDING GROUND FONT INITIATIVE.
FROM THERE, WE PUT TOGETHER THE BAY PARK MASTER PLAN WHICH THIS
COMMISSION APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018.
THEN WE CREATED THE BAY PARK CONSERVANCY TO HELP US RUN,
IMPLEMENT, AND OPERATE THE PARK. OUR FIRST PROJECT WAS THE
FOUNTAIN GARDEN RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER OF BOULEVARD OF THE
ARTS AND 41. AND THAT WAS DONE IN JANUARY OF
2020, RIGHT BEFORE COVID. IT REALLY, WE THINK, SET THE
TONE FOR WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AS A PARK.
THEN BEPROGRESSED TO DOING THE BAYOU MANGROVE WALKWAY, WHICH IS
PHENOMENAL. I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN
THERE. THAT WAS AN EARLY INITIATIVE AND
DONE WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF OUR LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, THE BARANCIK
FOUNDATION. THEN WE QUICKLY MOVED INTO PHASE
ONE. PHASE ONE, AS I KNOW EVERYBODY
ON THE COMMISSION KNOWS, IS THAT BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LAND RIGHT
THERE ALONG BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, INCLUDING OUR MONTHLONG
CELEBRATION GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE
OF PHASE TWO, AND WE ARE COMING UP WITH SIMILAR PROJECTS BEING
DONE. AG WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON
ALL OF THE PHASE TWO UPDATES. IT WILL BE REALLY GOOD.
THEN MOVING INTO PHASE THREE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR GOAL IS
TO DELIVER AS MUCH PARK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. I THINK YOU'LL SEE FROM THE
SLIDE, WE BUILT MOMENTUM. WE HAVE A PARALLEL TRACK OF NOT
ONLY DOING THE PROJECT BUT RUNNING THE PARK.
WE THINK THAT BY DOING IT PARALLEL WITH EACH OTHER WE SAVE
MONEY AND WE DELIVER ON OUR PROMISE TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AS
MUCH PARK AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AS A CONSERVANCY, WE HAVE FOUR MAIN ROLES.
THESE ARE ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE KNOW IT'S OUR JOB TO DO THE MASTER PLAN, DESIGN PLAN AND
DEVELOP EACH PHASE OF THE NEW PARK.
THEN WE HAVE TO MANAGE, OPERATE, MAINTAIN IT AND RAISE FUNDS THAT
ARE CONTRIBUTED IN EXCESS OF WHAT THE CITY AND COUNTY GIVE
US. THOSE LOOK LIKE FOUR SHORT
LITTLE SENTENCES AND THEY ARE QUITE BIG TASKS, WE KNOW.
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SHARE WITH YOU FUNDING OF THE PARK.
THE SLIDE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE WHAT IT IS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
AND OPERATION, BECAUSE LET'S NOT FORGET WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING
IT. WE HAVE TO RUN IT.
THEN ON THE RIGHT IS IMPLEMENTATION ONLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IT COSTS US TO HAVE THE BAY PARK
IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATIONS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE BPC HAS DONE
56% OF IT. WITH NON-CITY, NONCOUNTY FUNDS.
WE THINK THAT IS A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE NUMBER.
WHERE DID WE START? THIS WAS THE BEAUTIFUL SITE BACK
IN 1930. NOTICE THE BAY IS STILL WHERE IT
IS TODAY WHEN THEY BUILT THE SITE AND STARTED FILLING IT.
WE ENDED UP WITH 53 ACRES ON THE BAY, WHICH BECAME A PARKING LOT
SURROUNDING OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THIS MASSIVE PARKING LOT THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF
THE SCREEN THAT'S ADJACENT TO VAN WEZEL IS THE BIGGEST
POLLUTER ON THE SITE TODAY. ALSO OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WATER QUALITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE SET OUT ABOUT MAKING A MASTER PLAN TO CHANGE THAT
SITUATION. WHAT WAS THE PLAN?
IT WAS TO TAKE THESE PRECIOUS 53 ACRES AND OVER THE COURSE OF WE
THOUGHT 8 TO 10 YEARS, SPEND ABOUT $200 MILLION, DO ABOUT
FOUR OR SO PHASES, AND IT INCLUDED FOUR BUILDINGS THAT ARE
ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES WHICH POSE THEIR
OWN CHALLENGE. SOMEHOW WITH ALL THAT, WE ARE
GOING TO BUILD A PARK. AND WE DID.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARK TODAY, WE HAVE OVER 700,000 USERS THAT
COME TO THE PARK TO DO EITHER PARK RELATED ACTIVITIES OR ONE
OF OUR MANY SITE PARTNERS. THAT IS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THAT
WAS ON THE SITE THREE YEARS AGO, AND WE BELIEVE IN ANOTHER THREE
YEARS, WE'LL GET IT UP TO A MILLION USERS A YEAR, WHICH IS
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. WHILE WE SET OUT TO BUILD A
PARK, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING SO MUCH MORE.
A LOT OF THIS IS ON THE BLUE AND GREEN OASIS WE TALKED ABOUT.
THIS IS CLEANING UP. IT'S IMPROVING STORMWATER.
IT'S MAKING IT MORE RESILIENT. HOW MANY TIMES TODAY WE HEARD
THE WORD RESILIENT. RESTORING, PRESERVING AND ADDING
TO THE GREENSPACE. AND IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT WE
HAVE FUN WHILE THERE AND A REALLY COOL PARK.
THE RESULT IS THAT WE HAVE A PARK THAT HAS 20 PLUS ACRES
ALREADY WITH GOLF COURSE QUALITY LAWNS, BEAUTIFUL GARDENS, A LOT
OF FUN ACTIVITIES, AND EVERY SINGLE DAY THE PARK LOOKS LIKE
IT DID THE FIRST DAY WE OPENED IT.
AND THAT IS THE STANDARD WE HOLD OURSELVES TO.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO ESSENTIAL ROLES OF THE BAY PARK
SITE WHICH SOUNDS SILLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT A PARK BUT TRUE.
BAY PARK SITE PROTECTS SARASOTA BAY FROM THE CITY.
ALL OF THE WATER QUALITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THE PARK ALSO PROTECTS THE CITY FROM SARASOTA BAY.
IT STANDS AS A BARRIER BETWEEN THE BAY AND THE CITY SO WE TAKE
VERY SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP PROTECT
OUR WONDERFUL CITY. RESILIENCE WAS THE WORD OF THE
YEAR LAST YEAR AND CERTAINLY THE LESSONS WE LEARNED IN THE STORMS
WAS THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE MORE RESILIENT.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE BUILDING A PARK FOR RESILIENCY, BUT EVEN WE
LEARNED SOME LESSONS. THE BAY PARK SUSTAINED OVER A
MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. BIG NUMBER, AND THIS WAS A PARK
THAT WAS BUILT FOR RESILIENCY. I WOULD POINT OUT OUR PARK WAS
OPEN WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE LAST STORM.
AND THAT'S DUE TO GREAT DESIGN BUT ALSO DUE TO A FANTASTIC TEAM
OUT THERE WORKING BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE BAY PARK HAD TO BE
A PLACE OF RESPITE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF CITY PARKS WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN FOR MANY, MANY
WEEKS, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO BE THE PLACE WHERE OUR COMMUNITY
COULD GO. THE LESSON WAS THAT IT WAS THE
STORY OF ONE SITE WITH TWO OUTCOMES.
BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TOTALLY DONE THE ENTIRE SITE YET, WE COULD
SEE SIDE BY SIDE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PLAN FOR RESILIENCY
VERSUS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN FOR
RESILIENCY. ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, YOU'LL
SEE THE DAMAGE FROM THE STORM AND THERE WAS DAMAGE, BUT IT WAS
INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED FOR RESILIENCE.
THINGS WERE NOT DESTROYED. THING WERE NOT TORN APART.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, WHICH I WOULD SAY IS 200
YARDS NORTH OF THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE AN AREA
NOT DESIGNED FOR RESILIENCE. THIS TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN --
AND NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR FOCUS ON RESILIENCY, WHICH IS
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN PHASE TWO AND HOPE TO DO IN PHASE THREE.
AG. >> IF YOU THINK BACK TO THE
BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTO THAT WE SHOWED EARLIER, THIS PICTURE
PROBABLY MAKES SENSE. THE SITE IS A CHALLENGING ONE.
WITH SIX FEET OF STORM SURGE, EVERYTHING BLUE WOULD BE
UNDERWATER. OBVIOUSLY, THE SAFEST PART OF
THE SITE IS UP AGAINST NORTH TAMIAMI TRAIL TO THE EAST.
FORTUNATELY, VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ART HALL IS A BIT
ABOVE SIX, BUT THAT DIDN'T PROTECT US FROM HELENE AND FROM
MILTON, BECAUSE THE STORM SURGE AND WAVE ACTION WAS AT 8.5 FEET.
THIS REMINDED ME THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM THE TIME WE DID
THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, WE LOOKED AT THE EXISTING
ELEVATIONS, WHICH ARE IN PA LEN THEY SEES -- PARENTHESES AND
PLAN FOR MORE RESILIENCY BY BUILDING ELEVATION WHEREVER WE
COULD. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CENTER OF THE
PARK, WHERE THE CURRENT ELEVATION AND THE PARKING LOT
ADJACENT TO THE VAN WEZEL IS SIX FEET ABOVE BAY LEVEL, WE PLANNED
FOR 18. THIS IS OUR PLAN TODAY.
ELEVATION MATTERS. IT IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
AGAINST STORM SURGE, SEA LEVEL RISE.
LET ME TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PHASE TWO UPDATE.
I DON'T KNOW. HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN OVER TO THE
PARK IN THE LAST FEW DAYS? WE ACTUALLY OPENED THE PROMENADE
AND THE CULTURAL DISTRICT ON THE FRONT SIDE.
PHASE TWO HAD -- HAS FOUR ACTIVE PROJECTS.
THEY ARE ALL DESIGNED TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE.
THEY ALL IMPROVE STORMWATER AND WATER QUALITY AND THEY ADD
ADDITIONAL GREENSPACE. THE RESILIENT SHORELINE IS
OUTLINED ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, ALONG SARASOTA BAY, TWO PIECES,
ONE PIECE SOUTH OF THE BOAT BASIN, ONE PIECE TO THE NORTH.
THE CANAL DISTRICT OR BOAT BASIN DISTRICT IS THE REPAIR OF THE
SEAWALL ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE ADDITION OF NEW FLOATING DAY
DOCKS AFTER WE DREDGED THE BOAT BASIN AS WE DID THE BAYOU.
THE CULTURAL DISTRICT IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK.
OUR NEW FRONT DOOR TO THE PARK. THAT PROMENADE IS OPEN AND HAS
BEEN OPEN FOR THE PAST WEEK. THE CHIDSEY IS ABOUT TO OPEN.
IF YOU COME TO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND CELEBRATION OF THE
STATE OF THE PARK, WE'LL HAVE A TOUR OF THE CHIDSEY AND RIBBON
CUTTING FOR THE PROMENADE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT, JUST AS WE REHABILITATE, RENOVATE, AND
REPURPOSE THE PARK, WE'RE DOING THE SAME WITH ARCHITECTURALLY
AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS THAT WERE ENTRUSTED TO
US AS PART OF THE PARK. SO FAR, KNOCK ON WOOD, TWO AND A
HALF YEARS IN WE'RE STILL ON PLAN, STILL ON BUDGET, AND WE'RE
STILL ON SCHEDULE. WE TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN
THE ON-BUDGET PIECE DESPITE THESE PROJECTS BEING APPROVED IN
THE FALL OF '22, WE'RE THREE YEARS LATER, WE HAVEN'T YIELDED
TO ESCALATION OR INFLATION. WE FIND WAYS TO MANAGE SCOPE.
WE FIND WAYS TO MANAGE PLAN, WE FIND WAYS TO VALUE ENGINEER SO
WE CAN DELIVER EVERYTHING THAT WE COMMIT TO AT A VERY GOOD
VALUE. THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN VERY
RECENTLY. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN TO THE
BOAT BASIN, THE NEW SEAWALL IS MOSTLY DONE ON THE LEFT AND THE
FLOATING DAY DOCKS ARE IN PLACE. AND THEY WILL BE OPEN IN
NOVEMBER. I MENTIONED THE PROMENADE.
THIS IS THE NEW PROMENADE. IT'S ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET
STRETCHING FROM NORTH OF THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM SOUTH PAST
THE BLUE PAGODA TO THE CORNER OF BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS AND NORTH
TAMIAMI TRAIL. THIS IS AN ARTIST REPRESENTATION
OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, SO WE'RE
GOING TO DO A TOWN SQUARE BETWEEN THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
AND THE ARTS CENTER, HOLLEY HALL ON THE WEST SIDE AND A
CONNECTION TO THE EXISTING PARK THAT WILL BEGIN NEXT SPRING AND
BE COMPLETED NEXT FALL. AS PART OF THAT, WE WILL HAVE
COMPLETED THE GARDEN CLUB ON THE RIGHT.
WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE BLUE PAGODA AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME
MINOR RENOVATIONS THERE. YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE
RESTROOMS WILL BE UPGRADED TO PARK STANDARDS.
WE'RE DOING THE BAYFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT NOW ON
THE WEST SIDE OF THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM AND THEN WE'LL TURN
OUR ATTENTION TO THE REST OF THAT BUILDING.
THIS IS AN ARTIST REPRESENTATION OF THE RESILIENT SHORELINE WHICH
THE CITY WILL BE BIDDING THIS PROJECT BEFORE THE END OF THE
YEAR. IT SHOULD BE IN CONSTRUCTION
NEXT YEAR AND WE HOPE TO HAVE IT COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT
CALENDAR. TURNING TO PHASE THREE, WHILE WE
CONSTRUCT PHASE TWO, WE'VE BEGUN THE DESIGN AND PLANNING OF THE
NEXT PHASE. WE WORK FROM AN EVOLVING AND
WORKING MASTER PLAN. AS JENNY SAID EARLIER, WE START
WITH THE LAND AND THE WATER. WE PLAN FOR RESILIENCY.
WE PLAN FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY,
AND THEN AND ONLY THEN BASED ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FEEDBACK
FROM CURRENT SITE USERS, WE BEGIN TO LAY IN THE DESIGN AND
PLAN FOR THE ACTUAL USE OF NEW PARK SPACE.
WE ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF VAN WEZEL
PERFORMING ARTS HALL AND THE FUTURE SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS
CENTER. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH BOTH OF
THOSE TEAMS. PHASE 3A, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT
FIRST IS ESSENTIALLY CENTENNIAL PARK.
CENTENNIAL PARK IS THE NORTHERNMOST 11 ACRES.
IT IS A PARK MANAGED BY THE CITY.
IT IS THE ONLY PARK I BELIEVE OR ONE OF THE ONLY PARKS I BELIEVE
IN THE CITY THAT IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK TO
ACCOMMODATE THE BOATING AND FISHING COMMUNITIES.
AS YOU'LL SEE IN A MINUTE, WE FOCUS ON ALL OF THE KEY
COMPONENTS AS WE DO THAT IMPROVEMENT.
PHASE 3B IS THE CENTER OF THE PARK, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
DESIGN AND PLAN FOR THAT CENTER. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE,
OBVIOUSLY, OF THE TOTAL PARK. THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS TO
INVEST $20 MILLION, $16 MILLION FOR DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND
CONSTRUCTION OF CENTENNIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND $4 MILLION TO
CONTINUE DESIGN AND PLANNING OF THE CENTER OF THE PARK.
WE, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE BOATING COMMUNITY.
I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THERE IS NOT ONE
BOATING COMMUNITY. IF YOU CHATTED WITH THEM,
THERE'S NOT ONE RECREATIONAL BOATING COMMUNITY AND NOT ONE
COMMERCIAL BOATING COMMUNITY. SO YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ALL THE
GROUPS AND SOMETIMES ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THE
NEEDS. WE ALSO CONTINUOUSLY TALK TO
SITE AND PARK USERS. WE MEET WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD WORKING GROUP, OUR CITY PARTNERS.
AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON RESILIENCY, STORMWATER, AND
WATER QUALITY WITH EXPERTS IN THOSE AREAS.
SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT PHASE 3A?
CENTENNIAL PARK. IT'S WHAT WE LEFT OUT.
WE LEFT OUT THE FUTURE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
WE MOVED TO PLANNED RESTAURANTS FROM NORTH OF THE BOAT BASIN TO
SOUTH, TO THE CENTER OF THE PARK.
WE TOOK AWAY P THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BECAUSE WITHOUT THE
RESTAURANTS IT WAS A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE.
WE TOOK OUT THE OVERLOOK BY THE MOUTH OF HOG CREEK.
WE TOOK OUT ALL THE OVERLOOKS BECAUSE THEY GOT SMASHED AND
TRASHED BY STORM SURGE AND WE FOCUSED ON THE ESSENTIALS.
FIRST SET OF ESSENTIALS, EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO DO TO
IMPROVE RESILIENCY, RESTORE AS MUCH OF THE GREEN AND BLUE
ENVIRONMENT AS WE POSSIBLY COULD, INSTALL ALL THE
STORMWATER WE NEEDED TO TREAT EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT COMES
THROUGH THE 11 ACRES OF THE SITE.
THE NEXT PIECE WAS TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE BOATING
COMMUNITY, WHO ARE THE PRINCIPAL USERS OF THE PARK.
SO WE'LL REHABILITATE THE NORTH AND EAST SEAWALLS JUST AS WE DID
THE SOUTH SEAWALL. WE'LL INCREASE THE BOAT LAUNCH
CAPACITY, ADD A LAUNCH LANE, ADD TWO LANES, AN ADDITIONAL LAUNCH
BAY. INCREASE BOAT TRAILER PARKING
CAPACITY BY 50%. REHABILITATE THE RESTROOMS TO
PARK STANDARDS, AND INSTALL FLOATING DAY DOCKS TO THE EAST
TO GO WITH THE FIXED STAGE DAY DOCKS WHICH THE CITY JUST
REPAIRED AND IMPROVED TO THE WEST.
PHASE 3B, PHASE 3B IS ALSO BUILT ON THIS KIND OF LAYER CAKE
STANDARD. WE STARTED WITH RESILIENCE.
SO WE WILL BUILD TO TEN FEET ABOVE BAY LEVEL ON THE EAST EDGE
OF THE RESILIENT SHORELINE, TO 20 FEET ABOVE BAY LEVEL IN THE
CENTER OF THE PARK. WE WILL INSTALL BELOW GROUND, AT
GROUND AND ABOVEGROUND ALL THE ELEMENTS WE NEED NATURAL AND
ENGINEERED FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT AND BEGIN TO TREAT ALL
THE POLLUTED STORMWATER AND RUNOFF THAT GOES THROUGH THE
CENTER OF THE SITE. WE WILL INSTALL BUILD DESIGN AND
BUILD A PLAY AREA, WATER FEATURES, NEW RESTAURANTS, AND,
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL PUT IN A REAL GARAGE THAT WILL CONSIST OF
GARAGE ON THE VAN WEZEL AND PARKING UNDER PARK IN THE CENTER
OF THE PARK. I JUST -- WE PUT THIS SLIDE IN
FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF HOW WE WORK FROM
BAY LEVEL TO THE RESILIENT SHORELINE AT 9.5 FEET TO THE
PARK RESTAURANTS AT 22 FEET TO THE TOP OF THE PARKING LEVEL AT
29 FEET. THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM IS AT
55 FEET. A FEW QUICK VIEWS OF WHAT THE
CENTER OF THE PARK MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
THERE WILL BE PLAY AREAS, SUGGESTIONS ON THE RIGHT.
THE PARK WILL TERRACE UP FROM SARASOTA BAY, SO THE PLAY AREAS
CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TERRACING AND THE PLAY SCAPE AS
CAN THE WATER FEATURES. AND THESE ARE JUST SOME
EXAMPLES. YOU TURN STORMWATER TREATMENT
INTO PLAY, IT IS A TWOFER. FUNDING, I'M GOING TO TURN TO
CITY MANAGER BULLOCK FOR THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATION ON
FUNDING, WHICH WE CONCUR WITH. >>Dave Bullock: AG, YOU SAID YOU
WERE GOING TO FUND THE ENTIRE THING.
>> I DID. BUT, DAVE, THAT WAS FRIDAY.
[ LAUGHTER ] TODAY IS MONDAY.
>>Dave Bullock: WHAT THE BAY PARK HAS ASKED FOR AND WHAT WAS
PRESENTED AT THE BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD WAS
ESSENTIALLY IN TOTAL A $20 MILLION REQUEST WITH REALLY A
MILLION DOLLAR NEED IN THE NEXT, LET'S SAY, FIVE TO SIX MONTHS.
SO IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY STAFF, IF THE COUNTY
COMMISSION AGREES WITH THAT REQUEST, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN
OUR, LET'S CALL IT, OUR JOINT CHECKING ACCOUNT, THAT WE COULD
ACCOMMODATE THE MILLION DOLLARS AND AG CAN INVOICE AGAINST THAT.
FOR THE BALANCE OF IT, WE WOULD NEED TO DO FINANCING.
THE OTHER REASON WHY WE REALLY -- WHY AT LEAST I WANT TO JUST
LET A FEW MONTHS GO BY, THERE'S SOME PRETTY COMPLEX PERMITTING
THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE FOR SOME OF THIS.
AND PROBABLY THE POTENTIAL FOR DELAY IS MORE IN PERMITTING THAN
IT WILL BE IN CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S OFTEN THE CASE.
IT TAKES LONGER TO DESIGN AND PERMIT AN IMPROVEMENT THAN IT
DOES TO BUILD IT. THAT WILL GIVE US -- WE'LL GET A
BEAT ON WHEN WE CAN REASONABLY EXPECT THE PERMITTING TO COME IN
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FINANCE TOO EARLY AND THEN GET A YEAR
AND A HALF DELAY ON PERMITTING AND RUN INTO SPEND-DOWN
REQUIREMENTS. WE THINK WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE
MILLION DOLLARS IF THE COMMISSION CONCURS.
THIS IS ALL CONTINGENT ON THE COUNTY ALSO APPROVING THE SAME
PLAN. AND THEN BEYOND THAT WE WOULD
LOOK TO ISSUE DEBT SOMETIME IN 2026.
WHICH WOULD CARRY THE PROJECT THROUGH THIS PHASE WHICH TOTALS,
IN TOTAL, $20 MILLION. >> THE ONE MILLION IS SIMPLY
DESIGN AND PLANNING MONEY FOR THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
THE PERMITTING THAT CITY MANAGER REFERRED TO, TWO PRINCIPAL
PERMITS, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND S.W.F.W.M.D.
WE BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE 60% PLANS DONE FOR CENTENNIAL PARK PROJECT
BY, SAY, THE END OF JANUARY. WE'RE BEING TOLD BECAUSE IT'S
REPAIRS TO THE SEAWALL THAT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS PERMITS COULD
COME AS QUICKLY AS FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, BUT WE'VE COMMITTED TO
THE CITY THAT WE'LL GIVE THEM A DETAILED TIMELINE OF PLANNING,
PERMITTING, START OF CONSTRUCTION, AND CITY MANAGER
IS RIGHT. LION'S SHARE OF THE CONSTRUCTION
WOULD OCCUR IN THE SECOND HALF OR LAST QUARTER OF 2026 AND
2027. WE DON'T WANT TO BOND, WE DON'T
WANT TO FINANCE TOO EARLY, BORROW THE MONEY BEFORE WE NEED
IT. IN CLOSING, AS WE MOVE FORWARD
AND WORK EVEN CLOSER WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY, NIK WAS UP
HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF JERRY WAS HERE TODAY, BUT WE WORK CLOSELY
WITH PARKS AND REC. JENNIFER JORGENSEN AND HER TEAM
IN PURCHASING, BUT THESE ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS WE'RE PAYING A
LOT OF ATTENTION TO IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD AS WE PLAN AND
WORK TOGETHER. BECAUSE AS WE MOVE INTO THE
MIDDLE OF THE PARK, WE'LL HAVE TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE AT
EVEN HIGHER LEVELS THAN WE HAVE SO FAR.
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER ON THE
RESILIENCY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY THAT SERVES
THE ENTIRE PARK. SECOND IS, YOU SAW IN THE USE,
THIS IS A SURPRISING PARK OF 50 ACRES FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
USES AND THE COMBINATION OF USES.
IF YOU LOOK ACROSS AMERICA, THERE AREN'T MANY PARKS THAT
HAVE A PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH, HAVE A GARDEN CLUB, HAVE AN ART
CENTER, HAVE A MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM HOLLEY HALL, VAN
WEZEL AND ARE CONTEMPLATING A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
SO IT ALL FITS, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT FITS WELL, IT FITS IN A RESILIENT WAY AND FITS IN A WAY
THAT WORKS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT USERS.
SO ASSUMING WE GET AN APPROVAL WITH THE COUNTY TOMORROW, I'LL
BE MEETING WITH TONYA AND HER TEAM ON WEDNESDAY TO BEGIN TO
TALK ABOUT THIS. HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER AND
AGAIN, CITY MANAGER BULLOCK JUST ENCOURAGED US TO TAKE OUR LEVELS
OF COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND COORDINATION TO EVEN HIGHER
LEVELS AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THAT.
THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
I'LL GET IN TROUBLE IF I DON'T SHOW THE LAST SLIDE.
THIS FRIDAY IS THE STATE OF THE PARK EVENT.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE COMING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING
AND PARTICIPATING. THERE'S STILL TIME TO COME TO
TASTE OF THE BAY THIS WEEKEND ON SUNDAY.
AND THEN WE CLOSE STRONG WITH TWO DAYS OF MUSIC ON NOVEMBER
THE 1st AND NOVEMBER THE 2nd.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK, I TAKE IT. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER OHLRICH. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK
YOU. I HAVE A FEW DETAILED QUESTIONS
BUT THEN A COUPLE OF BIG-PICTURE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MONEY.
YOU SAID THERE WERE FOUR BUILDINGS ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. WHO MADE THOSE APPLICATIONS?
>> OH, MY GOODNESS, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND PULL THEM UP
INDIVIDUALLY. SEVERAL WERE MADE BY THE CITY.
THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER FOR DECADES.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE THAT WENT ON WAS THE MUNICIPAL
AUDITORIUM. AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY --
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: IT WASN'T PART OF THIS PROJECT.
>> NO, IT WASN'T PART OF THIS EFFORT.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I APPRECIATE, I WAS GOING TO SAY
RESPECTFUL DISCUSSIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH THE 40 TO 60,000
BOATERS. I IMAGINE THAT IT WAS --
>> NOT SURE WE SAW ALL 40,000 BUT WE SAW A REPRESENTATIVE
GROUP. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: WHAT IS
A STORMWATER TREATMENT TRAIN. >> A STORMWATER TREATMENT TRAIN
IS THE COMBINATION OF UNDERGROUND CATCHMENTS, SO THINK
OF ENGINEERED PIECES AND PARTS, IN THE CURRENT PARK.
WE HAVE BAFFLE BOXES, BEGINNING OF THE TRAIN.
WE HAVE DENITRIFICATION TRENCHES UNDER THE WALKWAYS.
WE HAVE CATCHMENT AREAS WHICH CAPTURE WATER THAT'S RUNNING
FROM EAST TO WEST. ALL THE WATER COMES FROM THE
EAST, HIGHER GROUND, AND HEADS TO THE WEST, EXCEPT FOR STORM
SURGES. BUT THE NORMAL RUNOFF.
YOU WANT TO DO AS MUCH REMOVAL OF THE PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN
AND ANY HEAVY METALS IF THEY EXIST IN THAT CATCHMENT.
THEN IT MOVES THROUGH SORT OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
TRAIN, WHICH IS ALL THESE TREES, ALL THIS LANDSCAPING, ALL THESE
LAWNS. THEY ACTUALLY ALSO HELP FILTER
THE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO GO INTO SARASOTA BAY.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE USE DRY PONDS AND WET PONDS AND
THE FANCY NAME IS RAIN GARDENS, BUT THEY ARE REALLY POND AREAS
THAT CAPTURE WATER AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY FILTER THROUGH THE
LAST -- >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SO A
VARIETY OF SOURCES HOOKED TOGETHER TO TREAT THE STORMWATER
BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE BAY. GOTCHA.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL SHOTS AT REMOVING THE NITROGEN.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: OKAY. YOU TALKED ABOUT A PARK OVER A
PARK. PARK OVER PARK.
>> PARK OVER PARKING. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: SOME
TIME AGO, THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO --
AND THESE ARE MY WORDS TODAY -- TO COME BACK TO THE CITY
COMMISSION WITH A PARKING PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE AREA, INCLUDING
THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT. IS THIS THAT RETURN?
>> ONE PIECE IN THE PUZZLE. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: DOES
THAT MEAN THERE WILL BE NO OTHER PARKING REQUIRED WITHIN THE
ROSEMARY DISTRICT? >> NO.
OKAY. >>Dave Bullock: IF I MIGHT, WE
HAVE COMMISSIONED A PARKING ANALYSIS SPECIFICALLY FOR
ROSEMARY. THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO
TRY TO WORK WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO INCLUDE SOME
PARKING THERE? MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT IS
THE DEMAND NOW AND IN THE FUTURE?
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ASCERTAIN, AND THAT SHOULD BE
READY, SUPPOSED TO BE READY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
NEXT WEEK OR SO. THIS IS A PIECE.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: PARKING OVER PARK WILL FIT INTO THAT
ANALYSIS. OKAY.
THANK YOU. THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
ONE MILLION IS CONTINGENT UPON THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS CONCURRENCE WITH WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING HERE
TODAY. THAT'S TOMORROW THAT YOU'RE
MEETING WITH THEM. DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO US AT ALL
ABOUT ANY CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH THEM?
>> WELL, RECALL ON THE BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD THERE ARE TWO
COLLEAGUES, TWO COMMISSIONERS FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
COMMISSION CUTSINGER AND COMMISSIONER SMITH, BOTH OF WHOM
VOTED FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN.
AND STEVE BOTELHO, THE DEPUTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND ALSO
ESSENTIALLY THE CFO, YEAH, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND
ESSENTIALLY THE FINANCIAL MANAGER OR CFO WITH THE COUNTY,
SERVES ON THE BOARD, AND HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROGRAM.
WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, BUT AS CITY MANAGER BULLOCK SAID, ALL WE'RE
ASKING THEM TO DO IS TAKE ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF SIX TO SEVEN
MILLION DOLLARS. THEY ALREADY CODEPOSITED AS PART
OF THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF TIF INCREMENTS INTO THE TIF
TRUST FUND AND INVEST ESSENTIALLY THEIR SHARE OF
500,000 WITH THE CITY'S SHARE OF 500,000 TO BRIDGE THE DESIGN AND
PLANNING. AND THEN ONCE THE FINANCING IS
DONE AND THE FUNDING IS DONE, THE RESPONSIBILITY, I BELIEVE,
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WOULD BE THEIR SHARE OF THE DEBT
SERVICE. IN A WAY, IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR
THEM. >>Dave Bullock: PRINCIPAL AND
INTEREST. >> YEAH.
EVENTUALLY THEY HAVE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL.
BUT, BUT THE TIF REVENUES BUILD IN THE 5 TO 10 TO 15 YEARS
AHEAD, SO THEY WILL BE PAYING THE DEBT SERVICE NOW AND FOR THE
NEXT FEW YEARS THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OFF UNTIL
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: GOT IT. SO AFTER THAT IS WHEN WE ISSUE
DEBT, RIGHT? EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT FITS WITH
THE TIF? THAT IS THE TIF?
>>Dave Bullock: YES. LET'S CLARIFY.
LET'S CALL IT A LITTLE PREPAYMENT WHERE IF THE COUNTY
COMMISSION GOES ALONG, WE MAKE ROUGHLY A MILLION DOLLARS
AVAILABLE FOR THE BAY PARK CONSERVANCY TO BILL AGAINST,
BECAUSE THEY SENT US A BILL FOR WORK AND WE PAY THAT.
THEN THE BIGGER CONCERN, WHICH I THINK WE WANT TO GET A CLEAR
INDICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TODAY IS TO FINANCE PHASE THREE,
IF I'M SAYING IT CORRECTLY, YOU'RE NOT COMMITTING TO IT, BUT
YOU'RE SAYING, YES, YOU'RE WILLING TO, WHEN IT COMES BACK
TO YOU, RESERVING ALL YOUR RIGHTS, YOU'RE STILL WILLING TO
FINANCE THE CITY'S PART OF THAT. THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT
STATEMENT FOR THE CITY TO MAKE SO THAT AG AND COUNTY STAFF CAN
SAY, YES, THE CITY HAS EXPRESSED ITS WILLINGNESS TO FINANCE THE
TOTAL $20 MILLION FOR PHASE THREE AT A FUTURE TIME NEXT
YEAR. SO THEN NOW THE COUNTY KNOWS
WE'RE IN FOR OUR HALF OF ALL OF PHASE THREE.
AND THEN THE ASK THAT HE WILL MAKE TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS
FOR THEM TO BE IN FOR THEIR HALF.
AND -- >> VIA THE TIF.
>>Dave Bullock: THANK YOU. THE WAY THIS WHOLE THING WORKS,
AS IT WAS ENVISIONED FROM THE BEGINNING, THE TAX INCREMENT
THAT IS COLLECTED ANNUALLY AND DEPOSITED EITHER IN THE TIF FUND
FOR THE PART OF THE CITY OR HELD BY THE COUNTY BUT THEY PAY THEIR
HALF OF THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST TO THE CITY, AND THE
WAY THE FINANCING WORKS IS THE CITY ISSUES ALL DEBT AND THE
COUNTY PAYS HALF OF THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST EACH
YEAR. IT'S ALL UNDER THE TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING APPROACH THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY STARTED BACK IN
2019, I THINK, IS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THANK YOU. WELL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT AS
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE THE BAYFRONT 2020
VERY, VERY, VERY BEGINNING, AND HAVE BEEN PRETTY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT
EVERYTHING THE BAY. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALLY
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH MS. BROWN FROM CCNA AND
HELPING TO GET THE VOICE OF THE BOATERS, AND THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT KINDS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SO MANY
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AND TO GET THAT VOICE HEARD AND
NOTED AND RECOGNIZED IS INVALUABLE.
SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A HERCULEAN
EFFORT. AND THANK YOU TO MS. BROWN AS
WELL FROM CCNA. SO THANK YOU.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT WAS THE RESILIENCY
FACTOR OF THE PARK. PHENOMENAL JOB.
YES, THERE WAS DAMAGE, BUT FROM SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE'VE
SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY THROUGH OUR OWN PARKS, OUR OTHER PARKS,
UNFORTUNATELY, DAMAGE WAS SIGNIFICANT, AND SIGNIFICANTLY
MORE DIFFICULT TO REPAIR AND TO GET BACK OPEN AGAIN.
AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY IS LAUDABLE
BECAUSE OF THAT EXTRA EFFORT IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE
INVOLVED, MAKING SURE YOU'RE DOING BEST PRACTICES, AND DOING
EXACTLY WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT AS WELL. AND THE EFFORT THAT YOU'VE TAKEN
TOWARDS THE SHIFTING OF THE DESIGN OF THE PARK HAS ALSO BEEN
COMMENDABLE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT HAS MOVING
PIECES. AND THAT IS ANOTHER EFFORT THAT
HAS TO BE NOTED AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT BEING BORROWED OR BEING USED,
THE MILLION DOLLARS REQUESTED BEING USED AND WAITING UNTIL THE
OPPORTUNE TIME TO GO FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE OTHER
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT SAVES MONEY.
I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND FOR
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS, FOR BUILDING AN
INCREDIBLE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, AND FOR BEING COMMITTED TO THE
OPEN, ACCESSIBLE, FREE MOST OF THE TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE
WAY ALL PARKS WORK. THERE ARE PARKS WHERE IT IS NOT
FREE. SO BEING COMMITTED TO THAT AND
FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THAT COMMITMENT IS REALLY VALUED BY
THE COMMUNITY AND BY MYSELF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS
TODAY, DIANA SHAHEEN, COO AND ADAM GELTER WHO WAS THE MAN WE
COULDN'T SEE AT THE BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD.
HE LIVES. HE DOES -- HE LEADS ALL OF OUR
IMPLEMENTATION AND, OF COURSE, A LOT OF THE TEAM ISN'T HERE.
I GUESS THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY, THIS THING IS BUILT ON
PARTNERSHIPS. AND WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER
OF PARTNERS THAT DO ALL THE DESIGN AND THE ENGINEERING AND
HELP US WITH THE RESILIENCY AND STORMWATER CONSTRUCTION.
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS PARTNERED, WE HAVE 30 PLUS
NONPROFIT PARTNERS. IT'S A UNIQUE NETWORK AND IT'S
BEEN TERRIFIC TO SEE IT GROW AND GET STRONGER.
BUT THAT'S HOW THINGS GET DONE. THAT'S HOW THINGS GET DONE.
>>Mayor Alpert: VICE MAYOR TRICE.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. THE THING IN YOUR PRESENTATION
THAT I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU ON IS LOTS OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE DESIGN
AND BUILD SOMETHING AND THEN THE STORM RIPS IT APART, YOU SAY,
OKAY, I'LL BUILD IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS, NO, YOU ADAPTED AND
SAID, WELL, THAT MIGHT NOT BE SUCH A GOOD IDEA.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE TAKING THAT APPROACH AND SAYING LET'S
LEARN OUR LESSONS AND ADAPT TO THE SITUATION.
HOPEFULLY IT WON'T COME TO IT, BUT AFTER YOU ADAPTED, WE MAY
DISCOVER THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE ADAPTATION, BUT AT LEAST
IT'S NOT SAYING I WANT TO REBUILD THE WAY IT WAS IN THE
BEGINNING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. BULLOCK BECAUSE THE NUMBERS HE
WAS THROWING OUT CONFUSED ME A LITTLE BECAUSE I'M UNDER THE
IMPRESSION FROM THE BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD MEETING THAT
YOUR REQUEST FOR PHASE THREE WAS FOR $20 MILLION OUT OF THE
COMBINED CITY-COUNTY TIF FUND. SO WHEN IT COMES -- AS I
UNDERSTAND IT THEN, THE CITY WILL AT SOME POINT DO THE BOND
ISSUE FOR THE FULL 20 MILLION, BUT IT WILL BE REPAID THROUGH
THE COMBINED COUNTY CITY TIF FUND.
>>Dave Bullock: THAT'S CORRECT. THE WAY THAT IT WORKS, THE CITY
ISSUES THE DEBT AND THEN THE COUNTY PAYS 50% OF THE PRINCIPAL
AND INTEREST ANNUALLY AND WE PAY 50% OF THE PRINCIPAL AND
INTEREST ANNUALLY. BUT IT IS CITY DEBT.
AND WE MAKE THE GUARANTEES. AND THEN THAT'S THE REVENUE
FLOW. THAT IS THE FLOW OF FUNDS TO PAY
THE DEBT IS 50-50, ASSUMING THE COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES
EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY APPROVES.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: THAT'S THE GLITCH IN THERE THAT THREE
ENTITIES NEED TO APPROVE THIS. THE BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD
ALREADY APPROVED IT, AND IF WE APPROVE IT TODAY, THEN IT WILL
DEPEND ON THE COUNTY TO APPROVE. IF ON THE OUTSIDE CHANCE THE
COUNTY DOES NOT APPROVE, IS THERE A MECHANISM FOR THE BAY
PARK CONSERVANCY TO COME BACK TO US TO WORK SOMETHING OUT?
>>Dave Bullock: I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT, BUT IF
SOMETHING LIKE THAT SHOULD OCCUR NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD
BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: OKAY. THANK YOU.
THAT WAS MY QUESTION. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER BATTIE. >>Kyle Battie: I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO
THIS PROJECT AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE TO
THIS CITY AND ITS INCLUSION. AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A
CHAMPION OF IT FROM JUMP STREET AND JUST HUMBLED AND
APPRECIATIVE TO BE ON THE BOARD AND BE A PART OF THIS.
AGAIN, I DON'T THINK I DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT'S PERTAINING
TO THIS PROJECT. I'M OUTSPOKEN ABOUT IT, IN FAVOR
OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO.
APPLAUD YOU IN ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS EITHER.
JUST WANTED TO JUST COMMENT. I SAW THIS PRESENTATION AT THE
BAY PARK IMPROVEMENT BORED, SO I SAW IT.
BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT.
THE CONCEPTS ARE SO EXCITING, AND I THINK FROM DAY ONE,
EVERYBODY HAS COME UP WITH JUST A REALLY AMAZING PARK.
SO FAR ALL OF THE CREATIVE PEOPLE WHO COME UP WITH THESE
DESIGNS AND WAYS TO DO THINGS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING THIS APPROVED AND SEEING THAT WATER FEATURE.
SO I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
I LOVED THE PARK OVER PARKING IDEA TO PROVIDE SOME PARKING.
AND GIVE US A HILL TO CLIMB. ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONERS, CAN WE GET A MOTION?
>>Dave Bullock: MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD MAKE A PROPOSED MOTION?
>>Mayor Alpert: SURE. >>Dave Bullock: YOU CAN ALL DO
WITH IT WHAT YOU WANT. IT WOULD BE MOVE TO APPROVE THE
CONCEPT OF FUNDING FOR PHASE 3 OF THE BAY PARK IN AN AMOUNT
ESTIMATED TO BE $20 MILLION CONTINGENT ON EQUAL FUNDING BY
SARASOTA COUNTY. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL
MAKE THAT MOTION. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'LL SECOND
IT. BUT DO YOU NEED THE MILLION
DOLLARS THROWN IN THERE SOMEPLACE?
>>Dave Bullock: I THINK -- NO. [ LAUGHTER ]
I THINK WE'RE OKAY. IF YOU APPROVE -- THIS IS A
CONCEPT WHERE EVERYTHING IS CONTINGENT ON THE COUNTY.
I THINK WE'RE COMFORTABLE THEY CAN BEGIN TO INVOICE AGAINST
MONEY WE ALREADY HAVE IN AN ACCOUNT, AS LONG AS THE COUNTY
APPROVES IT. AND YOU'RE NOT APPROVING THE
FUNDING YET. I'M TRYING TO RESERVE FOR YOU
THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE FUNDING AT A FUTURE DATE
WHEN WE HAVE EVERYTHING NAILED DOWN, WE KNOW HOW MUCH
EVERYTHING IS, YOU'LL MAKE THE FINAL VOTE ON FUNDING.
BUT AG CAN MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS APPROVED THE
CONCEPT OF FUNDING PHASE THREE IN THE AMOUNT OF $20 MILLION AND
CERTAINLY RELAY TO THEM WE HAVE THE ABILITY AND AT THE STAFF
LEVEL, AGREED WITH STEVE PATELLAR WE CAN USE OUR JOINT
ACCOUNT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE WORK.
I THINK WE'RE OKAY. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I SECONDED.
>>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER OHLRICH MADE THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. I REMEMBER THE DAY VIRGINIA
HALEY, MICHAEL KLAUBER AND I THINK JON THAXTON CAME TO CCNA
AND PITCHED THIS WILD IDEA ABOUT A PARK ON THE BAY.
AND WE SAID THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
WE'RE ALL IN. SO HERE WE ARE TODAY, HOPEFULLY
ALL IN. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WILL VOTE. IS THAT YOUR VOTE?
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH LET US
KNOW IF WE NEED HELP TOMORROW. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK? NOBODY.
OKAY. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 14, REMARKS OF
COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER BATTIE.
>>Kyle Battie: ABSOLUTELY NONE. >>Mayor Alpert: COMMISSIONER
OHLRICH. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: THANK
YOU. TWO THINGS.
I'M ON THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES FINANCE AND TAXATION
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE THREE AREAS OF FOCUS.
ONE IS AD VALOREM TAXES, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A BIG DEAL THIS
YEAR. THE OTHER IS LOCAL OPTION SALES
TAXES. AND THE THIRD IS LOCAL BUSINESS
TAX REFORM. THE COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED TO
FOCUS ON AD VALOREM TAXES, AND WILL BE WRITING A POLICY
STATEMENT THAT WE USE TO WORK WHEN WE GO TALK TO THE
LEGISLATORS IN TALLAHASSEE. THE SECOND THING IS, I'M TAKING
A COURSE FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES UNIVERSITY ON
HOW TO BECOME A MORE DATA-DRIVEN CITY.
I HOPE TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THIS CITY SO WE CAN BE
MORE DATA DRIVEN IN OUR DECISION MAKING.
THAT'S IT, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES.
SO FOR FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, I'M ON THE UTILITIES NATURAL
RESOURCES AND PUBLIC WORKS LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE 56 MEMBERS, AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF ITEMS.
WE CHOSE AS OUR FIRST ONE ENTERPRISE FUND TRANSFERS
BECAUSE LAST YEAR, LAST SESSION, THE LEGISLATORS IN TALLAHASSEE
PROPOSED TO LIMIT AND RESTRICT HOW MUNICIPALITIES CAN USE
REVENUES GENERATED FROM UTILITIES SUCH AS ELECTRIC,
NATURAL GAS, WATER, WASTEWATER, OUTSIDE OF THE CORPORATE LIMITS.
AND THERE ARE OFTEN BOND OBLIGATIONS, DEBT SERVICE, AND
OTHER CONTRACTUAL PROJECTS THAT MUNICIPALITIES USE THOSE FUNDS
FOR, AND THIS WOULD LIMIT THAT. THE BILL LAST YEAR PASSED THE
HOUSE, BUT IT FAILED IN THE SENATE, SO WE FEEL THAT IT'S --
WE'RE SURE IT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND WANT TO BE PREPARED TO
GO TO TALLAHASSEE AND GIVE GOOD ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.
THE SECOND ONE WAS THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL SURCHARGES.
FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO MAINTAIN AUTHORITY OVER ESTABLISHING --
TO ESTABLISH AND APPLY REASONABLE EXTRA TERRITORIAL
SURCHARGES TO REFLECT THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES OUTSIDE OF
THE MUNICIPAL BORDERS. FOR EXAMPLE, LONGBOAT KEY HAS AN
AGREEMENT TO GET -- THEY HAVE A SUBAQUEOUS LINE WHERE THEY GET I
BELIEVE WATER AND WASTEWATER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>>Dave Bullock: THEY TAKE WASTEWATER --
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: OUT TO MANATEE COUNTY.
LONGBOAT KEY HAPPILY PAYS THAT SURCHARGE, WHATEVER MANATEE
COUNTY GIVES THEM BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCE IS PRETTY
UNAPPETIZING. LONGBOAT KEY IS A RECEIVER OF
SERVICES, HAS NO ISSUE, AS DO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO RECEIVE THOSE
KINDS OF SERVICES. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THEM
OTHERWISE. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING
AGAINST THEM LIMITING THAT INCREASE IN CHARGES.
OFTEN THE MUNICIPALITY HAS TO INVEST OR THE COUNTY HAS TO
INVEST IN PROVIDING THAT. SO THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR THAT. A THIRD, CLOSE THIRD WAS ONE
WATER. AND IT'S A CONCEPT WE SUPPORTED
LAST YEAR AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
AND WHAT ONE WATER IS, IT IS AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO ALL
THINGS WATER. THAT'S WATER SUPPLY, QUALITY,
QUANTITY, PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND SURFACE
GROUNDWATER, FRESHWATER, MARINE WATER, POTABLE WATER,
WASTEWATER, RECLAIMED WATER, ALL OF IT FALLS UNDER ONE
INTERCONNECTED UMBRELLA. WHAT IT DOES IS IT BASICALLY
ENCOURAGES FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT SILOED BUT ACTUALLY
HAVE MULTIPLE IMPACTS ON THE WHOLE GLOBAL SYSTEM BECAUSE
WATER IS REGIONAL. AND TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, SPENDS A
BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON ONE WATER PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY CAN
SECURE FUNDING TO SAY IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO FIT THIS CHECK
MARK OR THAT ONE. IT'S GOING TO FIT 50 OF THEM.
AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US IN A MUCH BIGGER WAY.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WAS THE STATE FELT LIKE THE COMMITTEE
WAS NOT COMPLETELY READY TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO OUR COMMITTEE PICKING TWO DECIDED WE WOULD SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF ONE WATER AND WAIT UNTIL THE COMMITTEE WAS ACTUALLY
AT A POINT WHERE THEY CAN DO IT. PLANT CITY IS A BIG ONE WATER
CITY AS ARE A NUMBER OF CITIES. SO THERE IS A CONFERENCE, MR.
BULLOCK OR SUMMIT, I SHOULD SAY, ON OCTOBER 30th IN PLANT CITY
HAVING TO DO WITH ONE WATER. AND GOT A NUMBER OF PARTNERS
THAT WE KNOW AND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AS WELL.
SO THAT WAS REALLY -- IT'S WHERE THINGS ARE GOING FOR FUNDING AND
WATER, BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET FOR THE CITY OR
FOR THE STATE, I SHOULD SAY. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT I
ATTENDED THE DOWNTOWN SARASOTA ENRICHMENT ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL
MEETING. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS
THERE. I WOULD SAY OVER 50 FROM
MERCHANTS FROM DOWNTOWN. THEY ARE GOING TO BE HAVING AN
EVENT DURING THE THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMASTIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE TO PROMOTE LOCAL SHOPPING IN DOWNTOWN
SARASOTA, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING ALL KINDS OF STUFF TO
CELEBRATE AROUND THAT. SO LOOK FOR THAT.
THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO DOING A DOWNTOWN SHOPPING MAP.
WE ALL ATTENDED I BELIEVE THAT SWEARING IN OF THE SEVEN NEW
OFFICERS, AND THAT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL EVENT.
SO I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF HOW ATTENDED AS WELL.
U.S. RECYCLING, THE GROUP FROM CCNA, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE
MEETING AND MOVING FORWARD WITH TRYING TO GET THAT SITUATION TO
CHANGE. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SHARE.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'M GOING TO
BE VERY BRIEF ON FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
I'M ON THE DEVELOPMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE. WE PRACTICALLY HAD A TIE ON OUR
TWO ITEMS BEING CRAs BECAUSE AT LEAST ONE LEGISLATOR WANTS TO
ELIMINATE CRAs. AND THEN THERE WERE LAUNDRY LIST
OF HOUSING RELATED THINGS, SO WE SAID HOUSING ALSO, WHICH WOULD
INCLUDE LIVE LOCAL ACT AND IMPACT FEES, SEVERAL LINE ITEMS.
SO WE WILL PROBABLY NARROW DONE WHICH OF THOSE WE WILL INCLUDE
IN OUR ISSUE WITH THE LEGISLATORS.
BUT SEVERAL BILLS IN THAT AREA WERE FILED DURING THE MEETING,
SO IT WAS, OH, YEAH, WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU ANY DETAILS
BECAUSE THIS JUST CAME OUT. SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING SOLID TO SAY TODAY. AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO LET
YOU ALL KNOW TODAY. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YOU SAID
NUMBER ONE WAS CRAs. AND NUMBER TWO WAS?
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: HOUSING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN THAT
ORDER BECAUSE THEY WERE DIFFERENT BY ONE VOTE.
SO THEN THEY DID A RECOUNT. BUT I WAS BUSY TALKING TO
SOMEBODY WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF THE RECOUNT.
>>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YOU'LL TELL US AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: YEAH. >>Mayor Alpert: OKAY.
I GUESS I'LL TALK ABOUT MY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH
SEEMS LIKE A REALLY DISPARATE GROUP OF TOPICS.
IT'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, MOBILITY, AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SO I'M NOT SURE -- SO I DO HAVE
-- SB 180. WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE PROMOTING SOME, OR THE ISSUE CAME UP TO PROMOTE SOME
AMENDMENTS TO SB 180 TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION, CLEAN UP
SOME OF THE PROVISIONS AND THE ISSUE IS SUPPOSEDLY THE ORIGINAL
INTENT WAS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO REBUILD WHERE
THEY ALREADY HAD A BUILDING AND NOT BE.IS TOED BY LOCAL
GOVERNMENT IF THEY LOST IT BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE.
BUT THAT APPLIES NOW TO EVERYBODY WHETHER THEY WERE
AFFECTED BY THE HURRICANE OR NOT.
AND THEN WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL ISSUES.
WE HAD TO NARROW IT DOWN TO TWO, AND THEN NEXT MONTH WE'LL CHOOSE
ONE. THE SECOND ISSUE THAT WAS CHOSEN
WAS CHANGING THE DATES FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
SO ESSENTIALLY THE STATE IS WANTING THEM TO CHANGE THE DATES
OF THEIR ELECTIONS JUST AS WE DID HERE.
AND THE POINT FROM THE GROUP WAS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE THE POINT
THAT THEY DON'T REALLY THINK THE STATE SHOULD BE INTERFERING IN
THE LOCAL ELECTIONS AND WHEN THEY ARE HELD AND THE TERM
LIMITS. IF YOU MAKE IT EVERY EVEN YEAR,
WHERE GOVERNOR OR A PRESIDENT IS GETTING ELECTED, YOU'VE GOT
COMMISSIONS THAT ARE -- HAVE THREE-YEAR TERMS.
SO THEN THEY CHANGE THEIR CHARTER REGARDING THAT AND HOW
LONG THEY SERVE. SO IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED
AND THEY JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT IS THE STATE'S PURVIEW.
SO THOSE WERE THE TWO ISSUES THAT GOT CHOSEN.
OUR ISSUE FOR THE ART ON SIDEWALKS CAME IN THIRD.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T INDIVIDUALLY LOBBY FOR
THAT. THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
YES. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: FIRST OF ALL,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THE ART ON SIDEWALKS.
I HEARD IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. AND THEN, SECOND OF ALL, FOR SB
180, WHEN YOU GET THAT LANGUAGE FINAL, WOULD YOU MIND SHARING
IT? BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS OUR MOST
IMPORTANT ONE, WHEN WE GO TO TALLAHASSEE, BIG ONE.
>>Mayor Alpert: YEAH, OKAY. THAT WILL BE AFTER NEXT MONTH'S
MEETING. BUT THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS.
I CAN GET WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED, WHAT THEY ARE WANTING
TO -- >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: OKAY.
DO I HAVE A DOCUMENT FROM -- FROM VOLUSIA COUNTY, WHAT THEY
DID SIDE BY SIDE AS THEIR PROPOSAL.
IF YOU HAVE WHAT YOUR COMMITTEE DID, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: WHEN YOU ARE
FINISHED, I DO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE I WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
>>Mayor Alpert: GO AHEAD. >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THIS IS TO
THROW OUT AND MAYBE GET A SENSE OF THE COMMISSION.
IN LIGHT OF THE REMOVAL OF STUFF ON THE SIDEWALKS, STREETS,
CROSSWALKS, I NOTICED AT LEAST ONE OTHER CITY IN THE STATE HAS
PAINTED THE BICYCLE RACKS IN RAINBOW COLORS.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING IF WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PAINT
BICYCLE RACKS IN OUR PARKS, WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DOING
THAT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SAW THAT AS
WELL. >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I ASK
HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST? >>Vice-Mayor Trice: THERE MIGHT
BE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>>Joseph Polzak: NOTHING FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >>Mayor Alpert: MS. GRIGGS.
>>Shayla Griggs: I DO HAVE SOMETHING.
RARELY. I NEED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT WE ARE HOSTING OUR SECOND SHRED DOCUMENT EVENT.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 9 A.M. TO NOON AT THE VAN WEZEL PARKING
LOT. WE WILL HAVE THE SAME VAN BACK.
THEY WERE AWESOME. THAT IS THE GARBAGE MEN.
THEY ARE PERFORMING '60s SONGS.
OPEN TO THE CITY OF SARASOTA RESIDENTS.
YOU CAN BRING UP TO FOUR BOXES PER HOUSEHOLD, FREE, SECURE,
ON-SITE SHREDDING. ACCEPTABLE ITEMS ARE PAPER
DOCUMENTS, FILE FOLDERS, STAPLES, AND PAPER CLIPS.
NOT ACCEPTED, CDs, DVDs, HARD METAL BINDERS, NOT TAKING
ANY OF THAT. YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW YOUR CITY
ID. AND WE JUST HOPE PEOPLE SHOW UP
AGAIN. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROMOTE IT.
GET IT OUT THERE. WE HAD A GREAT EVENT LAST TIME.
GREAT TURNOUT LAST TIME. HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER
ONE. >>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU.
DONE FREE. >>Shayla Griggs: ALSO.
I HAVE ONE MORE THING. I NEED TO BRING TO YOUR
ATTENTION, I'LL HAVE MILES COME OUT AND EXPLAIN IT.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT
AND YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT IF ASKED.
MILES WILL EXPLAIN IT BETTER THAN I CAN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYBODY, AS
MOST EVERYBODY KNOWS, THE COUNTY IS MOVING OUT OF 1660 RINGLING.
IT'S QUITE A MOMENT. BEEN A LONG TIME OVER THERE.
THEIR LAST MEETING THERE IS TOMORROW.
IN THE MEANTIME, UNTIL THE NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING GETS
BUILT UP BY THE CELERY FIELDS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT RLA IN
VENICE. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US SPECIFICALLY AND OUR BROADCAST
OF THE MEETINGS -- >>Mayor Alpert: RL ANDERSON.
>> THAT IS THEIR SOUTH COUNTY FACILITY.
FOR US, GENERALLY -- HOW IT WORKS, OUR SIGNAL GOES FROM THIS
ROOM VIA FIBER ACROSS THE STREET TO 1660 AND THEN THAT'S WHERE
MASTER CONTROL IS AND IT GOES TO VERIZON AND COMCAST FROM THERE.
1660 IS GONE AS OF THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THERE'S NO CONNECTION TO VERIZON OR COMCAST FROM THE RLA BUILDING
IN VENICE. NOT ONLY US, BUT THEM AS WELL
ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON THOSE TV CHANNELS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
THEY ARE SAYING JANUARY FOR THE BUILD-OUT TO BE COMPLETED BUT
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT. JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, IF YOU
HEAR ABOUT IT, WE'RE NOT ON TV. THE COMCAST FEED IS
UNINTERRUPTED. THAT'S FOR ALL OUR ADVISORY
BOARDS ON COMCAST LIVE STREAMING AND ON DEMAND.
THE CITY COMMISSION IS ON GRANICUS AND Facebook LIVE.
>>Mayor Alpert: PEOPLE CAN STREAM IT --
>> YOU CAN STILL STREAM IT. UNINTERRUPTED.
GRANICUS WILL UNINTERRUPTED, KEEP GOING.
>>Shayla Griggs: WE WON'T HAVE TV FEED.
WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
>>Mayor Alpert: THANK YOU. GOOD IDEA.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU, MILES.
I'LL GO TO THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
NOTHING. OKAY.
MR. BULLOCK. >>Dave Bullock: I HAVE A COUPLE
OF THINGS. I WOULD ASK THE COMMISSION'S
APPROVAL TO SEND A LETTER TO SARASOTA COUNTY UNDER THE
MAYOR'S SIGNATURE ASKING THEM, FIRST ASKING IF WE CAN DO A
PRESENTATION ON THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND IF WE COULD GET
AN INDICATION OF WHERE THEY ARE AS A COMMISSION ON FUTURE
FUNDING. WE'RE AT A POINT IN OUR PLANNING
WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO NAIL DOWN WHETHER THEY ARE IN WITH US
ALL THE WAY, PART WAY, A LITTLE BIT, OR SOMETHING ELSE.
SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CRAFT THAT LETTER UNDER THE MAYOR'S
SIGNATURE AND SEND IT TO THE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: DO YOU NEED A VOTE FROM THE COMMISSION
OR CONSENSUS? >>Dave Bullock: IT WOULD BE BEST
IF WE HAD A MOTION JUST TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SEND A
LETTER TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO OFFER TO MEET WITH THEM AND
THEN EXPRESS OUR DESIRE TO KNOW WHERE THEY STAND ON THIS.
>>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
>>Vice-Mayor Trice: I'LL SECOND. >>Mayor Alpert: OKAY.
ANY DISCUSSION? >>Kathy Kelley Ohlrich: I'LL
JUST SAY THAT YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
I AGREE THAT IT'S TIME TO DO THAT.
>>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WILL VOTE, COMMISSIONERS.
IS THAT YOUR VOTE? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>>Dave Bullock: THANK YOU. MY LAST THING, AND WE CAN DO
THIS AT ANOTHER MEETING. UPDATE YOU ON THE WORK WE'RE
DOING ON THE VAN WEZEL. WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF
ENGINEERING. SOME MATERIALS HAVE COME IN.
SO RATHER THAN DO IT NOW, EVEN THOUGH I DID HAVE NIK STAY, IF
IT'S OKAY, WE'LL SCHEDULE IT, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE
HAVE DONE AND WHAT IS YET TO COME.
THAT'S IT. >>Mayor Alpert: ALL RIGHT.
SO IF THERE IS -- ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
ALL RIGHT. THEN WE ARE ADJOURNED.