Will Sarasota Taxpayers give Benderson another Bail-Out?

Sarasota citizens Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller have been tracking the development and funding of the Benderson Rowing Park since 2013. Below is an email circulated by Rounds regarding the County's reported intention to consider giving Benderson another $20 million in tax dollars:

=====

May 8, 2022

Why is the County Commission considering a $20 million “bail-out” for SANCA and Benderson Park Foundation? 

Years ago, both organizations pledged to raise private millions to build a permanent boat house, grandstands and restrooms at Benderson Rowing Park.They never delivered on their promises.  

 

If you think this bail-out proposal is totally irresponsible, please share your views with the County Commission:

mmoran@scgov.net

cziegler@scgov.net

ncdetert@scgov.net

amaio@scgov.net

rcutsinger@scgov.net

commissioners@scgov.net

 

Please forward this message to others who value fiscal responsibility. See details below:

 

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, the Sarasota County Commission will consider allocating another $20 million to complete the “World Class” Benderson Rowing Park promised in 2013 to be funded through a “public/private” partnership. 

While Sarasota County approved $19.5 public million in 2013 for park infrastructure in plans to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships, the private millions pledged for a permanent boat house, grandstands and restrooms have never materialized. This failure to deliver has sparked public concern for years.

 

More from the Sarasota News Leader

 

Now some officials are returning to the public trough to fill the massive funding chasm created when the County Commission apparently failed to demand a binding commitment from private partners at the time this huge venture was initiated. Sarasota County should not approve any more public funding—regardless of the source.  Nine years ago, the County approved $19.5 million through a bonding provision in the County Charter, using Tourist Development Tax (TDT). It’s past time for SANCA and Benderson Park Foundation to deliver on the private millions promised years ago, but not delivered.  Hollow private funding pledges should be denounced, not minimized and rewarded with more public millions.  

 

Corroborating documentation: 

• Attached is a copy of the 2013 County Press Release announcing the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Benderson Rowing Park. SANCA would raise private funds for Phase III permanent structures (boat house, grandstands and restrooms) in time for the 2017 World Rowing Championships (WRC). The boathouse and grandstands were not built, so to avoid an international embarrassment---the State Legislature approved an extra $5 million to rent temporary facilities (bleachers, tents/showers for rowers, portable toilets, etc.) for the WRC.  

 

From the 2013 County Press Release:

“...More than $40 million in public and private-sector funds have been committed to help transform a former borrow pit into Nathan Benderson Park, the premier rowing venue in North America, capable of hosting an Olympic-caliber event. Sarasota County's investment, $19.5 million, comes from a Tourist Development Tax (TDT), which is paid by visitors to the area. Those funds have paid for Phase I (dredge and fill) and Phase II (installation of park amenities, hardscaping and landscaping). Phase III of the project, construction of a state-of-the-art boathouse, timing towers, grandstands and other amenities, will be funded by SANCA and corporate support...”

 

• See 2017 ABC/Tampa investigation on the rowing park. 

• Note the grandiose aerial vision of the rowing complex and how a SANCA board member appeals for more public funds to match an uncorroborated claim of private millions raised to finish the park.  Nothing has changed---Hollow promises of private funding followed by requests for more public funding. 
• 
  

           Rowing Park Controversy (ABC/Tampa investigation on Youtube)

 

     Is there a conflict with the Sarasota County Charter?

• Note portion of County Charter, Section 5.2D (Bonding Limitation)

...Any issuance of such notes, bonds, certificates of participation or other instrument of indebtedness in a principal amount exceeding that fiscal year's bonding limitation must have prior approval by majority vote at a referendum specifically authorizing the issuance of such an instrument of indebtedness in excess of that year's bonding limitation...The County may not avoid the requirements hereof by issuing or causing to be issued notes, bonds, certificates of participation or other instruments of indebtedness which reflect a single, simultaneous or concurrent undertaking but which have been divided in such fashion so as to avoid the limitations as herein set forth. (Section 5.2 Amended 11/6/1984, 11/8/1994, 3/14/2000, and 9/10/2002, and Renumbered 8/31/2004.)”

           In 2013, the County Commission approved the maximum bonding allowed to pay for rowing park infrastructure without triggering a county-wide referendum. 

         Doesn't the County Charter prohibit issuing multiple bonds for the same project without holding a public referendum?    

Pat Rounds

 

Additional background articles:

2013—Herald Tribune:  $20 million in private donations needed to complete rowing park.

“...They need $20 million from private donors to finish the complex and deliver on the promise of a truly exceptional sports venue, a huge task to complete before 2017, when backers of the project hope to host rowing's greatest competition outside the Olympics, the world championships.

All of the key structures needed to define the rowing venue as a world-class attraction — from the finish line tower to timing huts, grandstands and a boathouse — must be financed through private donations.

Some of those structures are essential to hosting the rowing championships. Ideally, the entire project would be built out in time for the event.

Yet no money has been raised and the two-year-old nonprofit handling fundraising already has reshuffled board members.

2015—Herald Tribune: Foundation raises funds for Nathan Benderson Park

“....A new foundation headed by community and political leaders has raised $3.5 million for Nathan Benderson Park and hopes to raise at least $11 million in private donations for the emerging international rowing venue over the next 12 months.

The Nathan Benderson Park Foundation, headed by Randy Benderson of the Manatee County-based real estate firm, aims to be the fundraising arm that will draw the private financial support needed to complete the rowing facility's major structures. The nonprofit organization, which is separate from the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates — another nonprofit that is responsible for the park operations — will continue to raise donations to help build towers at the start and finish lines, a boathouse and several other buildings at the park..”

Citizens for District Power to Board: Don't Make CRB Undo Charter Amendment

 To the Sarasota County Commission:

The people of Sarasota County have spoken again—County residents support electing Commissioners by Single-Member District (SMD). 

In 2018, 60% of county voters in all five Districts and across party lines endorsed SMD.  Now, on the 2021 Sarasota County Citizen Survey, residents support SMD for a second time.  (See Sarasota News Leader article below this message.)

Single-Member Districts is an established method of representation.  

Nineteen FL counties elect Commissioners by SMD, including Collier, Broward, and Escambia. The FL Legislature and US House of Representatives are elected by SMD. Nancy Detert, who now sits on the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners, previously was elected to the State Legislature through Single Member District Voting. In that office she represented the interests of both her local district and of all residents of Florida.

SMD is in the Sarasota County Charter based on the 2018 voter mandate. SMD is not on a “trial run” and should not be under review or on a path to repeal. Three of five County Districts elected Commissioners by SMD last November. Two Districts (about 40% of county residents) will elect Commissioners by SMD in 2022.    

As a growing community, each District has unique issues.  Sarasota County should provide opportunities that promote public dialogue by holding District-level town hall meetings and offering other resources to facilitate communication.  

Please withdraw your request for the Charter Review Board to review SMD on October 20, 2021.

Please share the status of the CRB request for review of SMD.  

Citizens for District Power (CDP)

Bill Zoller

Pat Rounds

Tom Matrullo

Glenna Blomquist

Adrien Lucas

Susan Schoettle

==================================

Sarasota News Leader 

Plurality of county residents responding to 2021 Citizen Opinion Survey
expresses support for Single-Member Districts voting method for County Commission seats 

September 30, 2021 by Rachel Brown Hackney, Editor & Publisher 

Only 26% of respondents disagree with change 

This graphic shows the breakdown of responses to the survey question about Single-Member Districts. Image courtesy Sarasota County.

About 40% of the 1,250 respondents to Sarasota County’s 2021 Citizen Opinion Survey expressed support for the Single-Member Districts voting method that citizens approved during the November 2018 General Election, Joshua Scacco, a professor at the University of South Florida, told the County Commission this week.

Using a scale of 1 to 5, Scacco added, that meant the support reflected a score of about 3.3.

Only 26% of the respondents disagreed with the change, he said.

A team with the University of South Florida’s Institute of Government handles the survey each year. Its partner is HCP Associates of Tampa.

In May, Commissioner Nancy Detert stressed to County Administrator Jonathan Lewis that she wanted a question on the 2021 survey about Single-Member Districts. She and her colleagues over the past year have contended that the people who approved the Sarasota County Charter amendment in 2018 did not understand it.

That amendment restricts voters in a district to voting just for County Commission candidates who live in the same district. Previously, commission races were contested countywide.

During a Sept. 28 exchange with Scacco, at the conclusion of the presentation of the survey results, Detert alluded to two speakers who criticized the board members earlier that morning for requesting that the question be on the survey.

                            Joshua Scacco. Image courtesy University of South Florida

“Did anyone in the general public complain that you asked certain questions?” Detert asked Scacco.

A professional call center handles the actual survey after the USF/HCP team has developed the questions, he replied. “We would have to go back to the transcripts of that particular question to get an idea.” Scacco added, “I wouldn’t expect that there would be much there.” Nonetheless, he told Detert that he would make certain to include the information in a final report on the survey, which the team would deliver next month. (See the related article in this issue.)

Pat Rounds addresses the commissioners on Sept. 28. News Leader image

During the Open to the Public period for comments at the start of the Sept. 28 board meeting, Pat Rounds of Sarasota, a member of a group called Citizens for District Power, reminded the commissioners that 60% of the citizens who participated in the November 2018 referendum on Single-Member Districts approved it.

Rounds contended that the commissioners began “sowing seeds of doubt” about the voting system “immediately after the first three districts elected commissioners by Single-Member Districts [in November 2020].”

Rounds also pointed out, “One of you even likened Single-Member Districts to a question about septic tanks [also requested for inclusion in the 2021 survey], calling [the voting system] ‘sludge.’” Rounds was referencing a comment Detert made during the May discussion.

“The people of Sarasota County have now told you twice that they want direct representation and accountability for county commissioners,” Rounds continued. “Will you finally listen?”

Noting that they also had asked the county’s elected Charter Review Board members to undertake an analysis of the effects of Single-Member Districts, Rounds urged the commissioners, “Please stop any review of Single-Member Districts as a step on the path to justify a repeal effort. Each district should experience Single-Member Districts for at least a full term before any ‘review’ is even considered. Do you agree?”

As usual with Open to the Public comments, no commissioner engaged Rounds in discussion.

The second speaker, Tom Matrullo of Sarasota, also pointed to the commissioners’ comments about voters having been confused. “Your new survey resoundingly shows the opposite,” he said. “Sarasotans want and need Single-Member Districts voting.” He further referenced the fact that survey respondents in 2020 reported their top stressor was population growth and new development and that that remained the primary issue of concern this year.

“Around the county,” Matrullo continued, ”people are anxious, upset and even enraged at how oversized developments receive blanket approval despite the reasoned objections of those whose homes, neighborhoods and lifestyles are impacted.”

He added, “Development issues usually affect people within a single district.” He noted the controversy on Siesta Key regarding proposals for four hotel projects with room counts ranging from 100 to 170, for an example. “The mega hotels on Siesta Key have little direct impact on the people of Old Miakka,” Matrullo said, “and threats to the rural life of Old Miakka do not impinge on folks in Wellen Park.”

Old Miakka is located in the far eastern portion of the county; Wellen Park is near Venice.

A graphic shows the Old Miakka Planning Area, outlined in blue, as presented in a county neighborhood plan completed in 2006. Image courtesy Sarasota County

“The county currently has no satellite offices, online facilities or public town halls,” he stressed, through which the board members could engage the public in discussion about issues at the district level. “District dialogue must become a priority.”

After the presentation of the survey results, Commissioner Christian Ziegler proved to be the only board member who did voice continuing anger over Single-Member Districts.

“It’s going to be tough to change my mind on just how bad of a form of government that is,” Ziegler said. “I think people want to vote for all the commissioners. … But it’s tough to get that thought out, you know, in a survey … unless you have a conversation with people. This doesn’t change my mind on Single-Member Districts.”

Citizen Power at Fogartyville

This past Tuesday evening, Cathy Antunes spoke with Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller, both longtime advocates for sensible planning and for the public good. The topic was Single Member Voting Districts: how the new electoral structure put in place by a citizens' amendment will actually work in the 2020 election. 

Alice White District 5

Fredd Atkins

They also talked of pushback: The County immediately redistricted in order to remove potential opponents to sitting Commissioners Mike Moran and Nancy Detert, using a map fashioned by the invisible hand of Bob "Adam Smith" Waechter. 

And they noted that the County has also amended the Charter to make citizen amendments so difficult as to be essentially obsolete.

The video is here, with links to the entire evening's discussion. including a lively Q & A with those in the audience. 

Two candidates for the Board were also present: Alice White (People for Trees) is running in district 5, and Fredd Atkins, currently in district Limbo until a a federal lawsuit against the Board is resolved. This year's election holds the opportunity to change the course of Sarasota's public sector. Citizens for District Power is a new group working on getting out the vote. Have a look:

Rounds, Zoller, Antunes: Single Member Districts and Citizen Power

Single Member Voting and Citizen Power

Community activist, blogger and WSLR radio host Cathy Antunes talks with Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller about the big changes to how we vote in Sarasota County, and the reaction from the developer-controlled political operators. Rounds and Zoller describe the new non-partisan group, Citizens for District Power. (If you wish to find out more about this new group, just drop an email to Citizens4DistrictPower@gmail.com.) They spoke at Fogartyville on Feb. 25, 2020.  

The first video of the set is below. You'll find the full discussion and Q & A with the very engaged audience at Fogartyville here.

Further dimensions of the single member voting issue:

When an amendment to switch Sarasota County elections to Single Member District Voting was presented on the ballot (thanks to citizens like Kindra Muntz, Pat Rounds and many more who dedicated hundreds of hours obtaining 15,000 verified signatures on a petition that changed the structure of County elections), the pushback from developers was immediate and intense. Read about that in

The Syndicate Strikes Back.

For more on the intricate way that developer money has infected and infested Sarasota's local elections for years, here's Antunes on Dark Money.

Citizens for District Power: Feb. 25 at Fogartyville

Joining the conversation will be architect Bill Zoller, an original member of Sarasota's Multi-Stakeholder-Group (MSG) that prepared the way for sensible growth efforts in the 90s.

More about Single Member Districts:

Why Citizens voted overwhelmingly for Single Member Districts

Developers Counter-Attack

The Federal Lawsuit against the Board's redistricting

The County Commission's decision to redistrict

Redistricting Questions still unanswered

Despite no legal requirement to do so, the Sarasota County Commissioners have been seriously considering performing a redistricting of their 5 districts in advance of the 2020 election. This has raised concern among advocates for Single District Voting -- a measure passed by voters of both parties in all districts last November. Seeing no reason to redistrict, some fear this will enable the Board to select its voters in order to help assure the reelection of its members running in 2020. Sarasota's Board has not had a non-Republican on it in 50 years.

Pat Rounds, a citizen advocate, has sought answers to certain questions raised by this potential maneuver - to no avail. Below is Rounds' email effort to get some answers to questions. 

To date, the exchange has been rather one-sided:

To the Sarasota County Commission and County Administrators: 

In May (as requested by the County Commission), County staff compiled and presented a comprehensive research report at a BoCC meeting assessing the potential need to redistrict before the 2020 Census. See attached (Redistricting--County Staff Research May 2019).  

This County staff report contains criteria identified by the Supreme Court to determine population differences which would justify a redistricting exercise. The Supreme Court stated that "generally the maximum population deviation between the largest and smallest district should be less than 10% to presumably comply with the one person, one vote rule."  Couple this formula with the ESRI/District population table currently posted on the County Commission page at scgov.net .  See attached.  The same ESRI GIS table (2018-2023) was recently sent to the County Commission by Jonathan Lewis, County Administrator. 

When applying the Supreme Court criteria to the ESRI-derived District population figures (below), the 10% maximum deviation threshold is not achieved. The population difference between the largest (D5) and smallest (D2) Districts is 7,610 people--under 10%.  No support for redistricting.

Dist 1-Moran   81,106

Dist 2-Ziegler   79,915

Dist 3-Detert    87,130

Dist 4-Maio      80,685

Dist 5-Hines      87,525

Apparently not satisfied with County research and findings, the Sarasota County Commission is moving forward anyway. The Commission is now searching for an outside expert to lead this exercise and achieve the desired outcome--But at what cost to taxpayers and voter trust? 

On repeated occasions, the County Commission has committed to conducting a public, transparent and inclusive process. Please demonstrate Sarasota County's commitment to full disclosure, and respond to the following public information requests: 

• What is the timeline for this redistricting process?
• What are the criteria for selecting an outside expert/s to facilitate this redistricting exercise?
  • Will a candidate/contractor search be conducted according to County guidelines? Please describe the recruitment and selection process. 
  • Has an expert been selected? If so, please identify your choice/s and the qualifications that justified the selection.
  • Outline the responsibilities of the outside expert/s  (e.g., process steps, methodology and disclosure of results).  
• What is the cost of hiring an outside expert to conduct this research?
• What data source/s will be used to determine the current county-wide and district-level population? How much will it cost to compile this data--- as Sarasota County has used ESRI in the past to calculate population estimates. 
• Please outline the criteria used to determine accurate population figures. 
  • What methodology will be used?
  • What data sets will be compiled to assess current county-level population by District?

Thank you in advance for your timely response to this request.   

Pat Rounds

Sarasota, 34235

District One

===========

After receiving no response, Rounds submitted her questions to Donn S. Patchen, head of county communications, in June. She is still waiting for a complete response.

Mr. Patchen,

This information request was submitted ten days ago and should require little, if any research.  The original email is below this message. 

There has been no official acknowledgement of the initial request (including from the Commissioner for District One). Is this typical?  

The County Commission has committed to conducting a public, transparent and inclusive redistricting process. The information requested is pertinent to understanding how this exercise is being implemented. Please demonstrate Sarasota County's promise of full disclosure, and respond to the following public information requests: 

• What is the timeline for this redistricting process?
• What are the criteria for selecting an outside expert/s to facilitate this redistricting exercise?
  • Will a candidate/contractor search be conducted according to County guidelines? Please describe the recruitment and selection process. 
  • Has an expert been selected? If so, please identify your choice/s and the qualifications that justified the selection.
  • Outline the responsibilities of the outside expert/s  (e.g., process steps, methodology and disclosure of results).  
• What is the cost of hiring an outside expert to conduct this research?
• What data source/s will be used to determine the current county-wide and district-level population? How much will it cost to compile this data--- as Sarasota County has used ESRI in the past to calculate population estimates. 
• Please outline the criteria used to determine accurate population figures. 
  • What methodology will be used?
  • What data sets will be compiled to assess current county-level population by District?

Thank you.

Pat Rounds

District One

Sarasota 34235

=========

July 5 Discussion

TUNE IN Friday, July 5, 6:00 PM to http://kdwradio.com 

Listen online or on the air at WKDW 97.5 FM radio for a hard-hitting program with North Port City Commissioner Jill Luke and Gabriel Hament on the proposed 2019 Sarasota County redistricting—and more!

“Transparent” redistricting of Sarasota County in 2019?

The Sarasota County Commission is currently assessing the need to redistrict our county in 2019---which could change the boundaries of our five voting districts BEFORE the scheduled 2020 US Census.  If you think that citizens should play an active role in this process, contact our County Commissioners now!

Source: Sarasota County

Last November, voters in Sarasota County sent our County Commission a clear message. In all five Districts, voters overwhelmingly approved more direct and accountable representation from our County Commission. Starting in 2020, each Commissioner will be elected solely by the voters in his/her Voting District -- a major change from the past countywide voting system.

But in the meantime, our current County Commission is considering making changes to our Voting District boundaries this year--starting in early May. Commissioners (including two up for re-election--Mike Moran/Dist. 1, Nancy Detert/Dist. 3, and one departing due to term limits--Charles Hines/Dist. 5)  would orchestrate this process themselves rather than taking the course recommended by the League of Women Voters/Sarasota County: Empanel an independent, expert committee of citizens who are not seeking public office.  

The LWV also stated that when "diverse stakeholders are left out of the redistricting process, it’s more likely that elected officials will choose their voters than voters will be empowered to choose their elected officials."  Link

At minimum, any County-level redistricting process must be fully transparent and should include input and feedback from county residents from start to finish.  In advance of Commission discussions or decisions, residents should know key background information--including: 

·  What universal criteria determine the need to redistrict---FL Statutes, etc? 

·  Which standardized data sources will be used to determine current population (US Census, other?) 

·  What methods and software will be used to "balance" each district?  

Such questions have been posed to Sarasota County, but not answered. Waiting until County staff delivers a report to the Commission in early May is not adequate or appropriate. Residents and voters should not be passive bystanders in this process. We need answers to key questions before the May meeting, preferably at a public, interactive workshop. 

A news report on the County Commission meeting on April 9th indicated that Commissioner Detert proposes that Commissioners "make this the most open, transparent and, frankly, televised exercise that the county's ever been through." "...Additionally, Detert said, “I think we all need to work on restoring the average person’s faith in their own government."

Please act now. Words and promises alone mean little. Send a message to our five Commissioners at https://www.scgov.net/government/county-commission-bcc. We the People must play a key and active role in the County redistricting process. Your vote is your voice.  

Kindra Muntz, President, Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections

Bill Zoller, Past President, Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Assoc. (CONA/Sarasota)

Pat Rounds, Past Sec'y, Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections

Related links:

BCC Rules of Procedure - Exhibit A to R2019-024 

BCC District 1

BCC District 2

BCC District 3

BCC District 4

BCC District 5

BCC Voting Precincts 

The Board of Sarasota County Commissioners may be reached at commissioners@scgov.net.

Michael A. Moran District 1 (Vice Chair)	Christian Ziegler District 2	Nancy C. Detert District 3	Alan Maio District 4	Charles D. Hines District 5 (Chair)

Sarasota resident seeking response from Mike Moran

Pat Rounds lives in District 1 of Sarasota County. She 's been attempting to communicate with District 1 Commissioner Mike Moran:

March 12, 2019

Commissioner Moran,

It's been over two months since sending the request below, and still no response from you.

Are you the County Commissioner for District One, or do you simply live in this District as required?

See questions in bold text below. 

If you can't respond to residents in your own District, any notion that you represent all five districts is laughable.

Pat Rounds

(Still waiting to hear when you're conducting a District One town hall meeting....)

===

Feb. 1, 2019

Commissioner Moran,

I understand that the Gabbert Construction Waste Facility has been approved on Palmer Blvd. This decision was made despite overwhelming opposition from Sarasota County residents including an organized and extensive citizen effort to identify alternative uses for this property consistent with its surroundings.

Mike Moran and Al Maio

It makes no sense to oblige the wishes of one person while compromising the Celery Fields (a nationally recognized wildlife sanctuary with an Audubon facility) to the east, and numerous commercial establishments to the west (including a grocery store and restaurant with outdoor seating).  The Celery Fields can't relocate.  A construction waste transfer station has other site options. 

As a resident of District 1, please explain the rationale for this decision.  And since the Palmer/Apex Road intersection contains multiple parcels of surplus public lands, please assure this constituent that you will mitigate the negative impact of this massive construction waste site by designating the remaining adjacent public parcels parcels as a non-industrial buffer (e.g., parks and recreation areas).  

Finally, do you hold public outreach meetings with your District 1 constituents? 

If so, when and where will the next meeting be held?  If not, please do so immediately. 

==

See also: "Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller on Single Member Voting Districts" (Herald Tribune editorial):

The County Commission is the sole local entity that can issue an ordinance to hold a special election at the county level. Should our commissioners receive a request to hold a referendum to vote for alternatives to single-member districts, they should reject it.