Porter runs for Charter Review Board

 The Charter Review Board's plan to reduce our rights to actively participate in our Home Rule Sarasota County Charter went before the Board on Tuesday, and the Board unanimously voted to hold a Public Hearing, which is required before they can place their amendment on the ballot - an amendment that will make it harder for citizens to amend the Charter. The Board wasn't even going to discuss the CRB's plan until several citizens spoke up - Vic Rohe, Alexandra Coe, Mike Cosentino and more. 

The CRB has several open seats up for election this November, and a new candidate has declared that he's running. Ray Porter, who ran for CRB in 2016, has entered the race -- here's his statement:

Look Beyond the D

On Friday, June 10, I submitted my official paperwork to run once again for the Sarasota County Charter Review Board. Hopefully, this time the voters will look beyond the D after my last name and realize I support the issues over 60 percent of voters also support in this county.

For example, mandatory recycling (approved by the voters in November 1990); single-member district voting for county commission (approved by the voters in 2018 and reaffirmed in 2020); a vibrant, open and free exchange of ideas during Charter Review Board meetings (preserved so far, but always under attack); and reasonable, prudent controls on sprawling growth that endangers Sarasota County's fragile environment and the future livability and unique character of our special part of Florida (perhaps a lost cause).

The Charter Review Board has always served as the alternative method for citizens to circumvent the Sarasota County Commission when that board acts in lock step against the will of the majority of citizens. That's why the county commission over the past 50 years has repeatedly sought ways to block, undermine, discredit, belittle, devalue and ultimately eliminate the CRB. 

It's unfortunate that the Sarasota County Commission will not embrace the founding principle and stated goal of the CRB contained in the Charter - our county's establishing document - "On behalf of the citizens of Sarasota County, the Charter Review Board shall review and recommend changes to the County Charter for improvement of County government."

In other words - the citizens, all of us, are given the opportunity to make changes we feel will IMPROVE county government. For many on the current board, and previous boards, this concept was threatening, upsetting, annoying, and perhaps represents an affront and challenge to their ultimate power and control over the citizenry.

The preservation of the CRB is my primary goal for running once again, and even in defeat, if I can get this message out there once again - the importance of liberty, freedom and democracy in Sarasota County - then I've done all I can.

Ray is at Ray@Portersrule.com

We see them, they just think we don't.

You know, in some municipalities - the lovely city of Asheville, NC, for example - government agendas are published two weeks ahead of time, giving citizens a chance to go through them carefully, and circulate annotated comments with context and analysis for those who could be impacted by decisions their Board is contemplating.

In Sarasota County, Board agendas come out late on Friday afternoon for the following Tuesday. The agenda for tomorrow, June 7, is here, and it has 77 items. If Alexandra Coe, who is a member of the Charter Review Board, had not circulated an email today, many would not be aware of item #2, by which the Board can vote to hold a public hearing to make it more difficult for citizens to amend the county charter. 

Here is what Ms. Coe wrote:

Liberty has no party and if these amendments pass, there will be NO GOVERNMENT of, for and by the people in Sarasota County.

We need people at the Board of County Commission meeting at 1660 Ringling tomorrow morning at 8:45 to speak and fill the room. The agenda is attached. Please notify your groups.The Republican Liberty Caucus is presenting a resolution to postpone the hearing and asking for revisions to the amendments.

Short history...

A Special Committee was created in 2019, in response to the SMD amendment passing to make it more difficult to amend the Charter

On October 14, 2020, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and without citizen input or consent, the Sarasota County Charter Review Board held a public hearing and approved two proposed amendments to ARTICLE VII, Section 7.1 of the Sarasota County Charter.

Popular Sovereignty is government based on consent of the people. The government’s source of authority is the people, and its power is not legitimate if it disregards the will of the people. These proposed amendments violate popular sovereignty.

Here's the thing - these amendments emerged from a backroom plot back in 2020. They arose in reaction to the fact that citizens of Sarasota had shocked the established syndicate by successfully changing our County Charter to Slngle Member District Voting. 

The Board tried every which way - including holding a costly special election last year - to reverse the will of the voters - but SMDs prevailed. Instead of developers buying official seats, actual candidates from Districts 2 and 4 will face the voters of their districts in this year's election.

The Charter Review Board has been working on this strategic sabotage of our amendment powers for more than TWO YEARS -- yet it's only slipped into the agenda now, for tomorrow, June 7, 2022. The Board will set a date - July 12, it seems - for a public hearing, then set a special election, so that citizens of Sarasota can vote to reduce their ability to amend their own County Charter.

Yep. Sneaky motions, sneaky agendas, Board machinations that try to keep citizens in the dark, out of the loop, and so confused that they'll vote against their own rights and interests.

Perhaps it's time for the adults in the room to let these children know we see them.

Now that developers are writing our Comp Plan, who needs regional planners?

Chairman Maio supports effort to detach counties from regional planning expertise:

In the 1980s, forward-seeing elected officials in Florida helped create a group of regional planning councils charged with the responsibility to take a wider view of planning and growth. They had the independent expertise to examine large development proposals and critique them, and the power to require developers to adhere to sound planning principles.

Under Gov. Jeb Bush the regulatory powers of the councils were weakened, then essentially removed by Gov. Rick Scott. 

The councils continue to provide regional perspective, population and traffic data and more to their member counties, but the rigorous effort to restrain growth in favor of quality of life, economic stability, and sustainable development is no longer a step in the approval of large developments (e.g. Hi Hat Ranch, Skye Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, etc.).

In a letter submitted for Board approval, Sarasota County Commission Chair Alan Maio supports a Lee County initiative to change state law regarding county commission attendance and participation in Regional Planning Council meetings from mandatory to "permissive" status. If the measure passes, counties basically would no longer need to participate or benefit from regional planning advisories unless they felt like it. 

Earlier this year, the Board enthusiastically agreed to have developers Rex Jensen and Pat Neal create a new component of our Comprehensive Plan - one which would allow Jensen to ignore constraints built into the plan.

The Comp Plan is the legal, binding vision of the people of Sarasota - or was, until this Board and its developer overlords begin to shred it. 

Here is the draft of Maio's letter attached to the Tuesday, May 24 Sarasota Board Agenda:

DRAFT 

May 24, 2022

The Honorable Cecil Pendergrass

Chairman,

Lee County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 398
Fort Myers, FL 33902-0398

Dear Commissioner Pendergrass:

Thank you for your recent letter dated May 4, 2022, regarding the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC).

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners has considered your request and authorized me as Chairman to advise you of our support of legislation amending Florida Statutes making membership in Regional Planning Councils permissive rather than mandatory.

This position will be included in our 2023 State Legislative Priorities which the Board will consider later this year.

Sincerely,

Alan Maio

Chairman

C: 

Sarasota County Commission
Jonathan R. Lewis, County Administrator
Robert R. Lewis, Director, Governmental Relations

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

Documents:

Letter from Lee County

Maio letter to Lee County

A builder leaves Sarasota County

 Dear Sirs and Ma’ams,

My name is Josh Wynne. I was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida; the ninth generation of my family from Florida. 

As I take time to write this, my wife continues to pack, as we have sold our business and our home, and we have purchased several properties and a home in Citrus County. On Wednesday, Michelle and I will make our move to Homosassa where we will live while we build our waterfront home in unincorporated Crystal River. We love Florida, and we especially love the wild places of Florida, which is why we love Citrus County, and which is why we are leaving Sarasota County. Citrus County remains largely unmolested by the hands of the worst land developers. 

 This is the reason for my letter. 

 I witnessed the demise of Sarasota County at the hands of a few crafty developers. I watched as remarkably beautiful lands were separated from every single living thing on them, at the hands of these developers who had the funds, the legal teams, and the connections to make things happen to land that should never be allowed to happen—that are not allowed to happen. And still, with corporate strength, money, resources, and connections, these trespasses can happen, and often happen at the expense of the tax payers themselves. 

Carlos Beruff

 These previously beautiful lands, once laid bare, will be replaced by soul-less homes, devoid of any of the architectural character that creates wonderful places, celebrated places, places worth visiting. These homes will be built by the lowest bidders. They will be built to the lowest acceptable standards, by every measure. The sub-contractors that build these homes will be underpaid, encouraged to work on the margins of legality, and will struggle with timely pay, and will often struggle to be paid at all.

 Carlos Beruff, from my perception, is one of those developers.

 I am a home builder. I do not, and have never competed with Mr. Beruff, so please do not confuse this correspondence with any sort of business related issue. I am sending this correspondence to make you consider the probable consequences of your actions, should you accept his bid for your parcel for sale. This email is a plea for a thoughtful consideration of other pathways to benefit the citizens of Citrus County that do not include opening the door to the proverbial chicken coop to the Fox, himself.

 I make no assertions to his character beyond what has been written and published in the attached links, but mark my words, once he is in Citrus County, you will no longer have authority over the happenings on your lands. 

 I will be releasing this correspondence to the public. Should you fail to consider this warning, the voters of Citrus County will know your record on this issue. Please vote smartly. 

 If you sell him that land, don’t spend the money. You may need it for litigation. 

 The following links were sourced in order by simply searching, “Carlos Beruff.” There are plenty more, none of them flattering.

 

https://thebradentontimes.com/beruff-drops-million-dollar-lawsuit-against-activist-p19923-158.htm

 

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2022/01/05/carlos-beruff-challenges-florida-commission-ethics-decision/9096359002/

 

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2022/01/05/carlos-beruff-challenges-florida-commission-ethics-decision/9096359002/

 

https://www.amisun.com/2017/11/19/beruff-attorneys-will-co-defend-aqua-lawsuit/

 

https://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/beruff_intervention

 

https://www.yourobserver.com/article/long-bar-pointe-lawsuit-reaches-settlement

 

http://www.impactfees.com/pdfs_all/manatee-county-sett.pdf

 

https://oursantaferiver.org/carlos-beruff-in-the-headlines-again/

 

https://account.bradenton.com/paywall/stop?resume=247695770

 

https://thebradentontimes.com/rick-scotts-parting-gift-to-carlos-beruff-is-a-disgrace-of-governance-p20512-137.htm

 

https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/state/2016/09/21/carlos-beruffs-wetland-mitigation-bank-shot-down-federal-agency/16296971007/

Josh Wynne

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..”

Why is the MSBIA's Florida House proposal even being considered? An email exchange

Florida House, Sarasota

Below is a recent email exchange with Sarasota County administration regarding Commissioner Mike Moran's motion to consider a proposal from Jon Mast, president of the Manatee / Sarasota Building Industry Association (MSBIA), the local Building Industry lobby. Jon Mast and his wife, Teresa Mast, have written to the Board and appeared before them at various points in pursuit of this proposal.

As already reported, the lobby and marketing organization is asking to buy the Florida House and move it to the Southwest Quad parcel. However, this parcel is under a conservation easement granted by the county in 2019 to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and to Sarasota Audubon. The Board discussion of the proposal has been reported in the Sarasota News Leader and the Herald Tribune. 

Despite the constraints on the SW Quad parcel, the Board approved Moran's motion, agreeing to consider the Mast proposal, fast-tracking it rather than choosing to examine other options presented by county staff (four options are shown at the end of this post).

=====

5.4.22

Dear Ms. Casanova,

This is in response to your email to Ms. Lucas, which is quoted here:

Thank you very much for your email. I am not sure where you received information that caused you concern, but the recent information that was provided on Facebook and other locations is not correct.

The county entered into a conservation easement in 2020 on the SW quad that provides for both conservation and for a portion to be used for the County Government needs. The SE and NE quads also have been protected by the same conservation easement. The conservation easement was initiated by county commission, and they approved it in 2020 to protect the buffer with the celery fields.

I am sorry you were misinformed by others, but there is no plan for private sector development on the SW quad or the other two protected quads.

Thank you again for emailing the County.

Kind Regards,

Desiree Casanova

County Administration Office

Today I reviewed the video footage of the brief Board discussion of 4.26.22, instigated by Mr. Moran's wish to make a motion for Staff to begin discussions with the MSBIA, which has, with no discussion with or support from citizens, peppered the Board with messages indicating its desire to take control of the Florida House and relocate it.

Mr. Moran opened the discussion, seeking to direct Staff to open a negotiation with the MSBIA regarding the Florida House. A few moments later, Mr. Ziegler said he's fine with such a motion, but he's heard "rumors" that MSBIA wishes to relocate to "the Celery Fields." He said he did not know if this was the case, but he would not favor a motion that included this element of the MSBIA's desire.

Other Commissioners weighed in, Ms. Detert opposing this motion, then it came back around to Moran, who proceeded to make the motion without honoring Mr. Ziegler's point about foreclosing the option of relocating to the SW Quads Parcel. All except Detert approved the motion.

Two facts: 

    1. Mr. Ziegler misspoke in referring to "rumors." As the news has reported, communications from the MSBIA - basically Mr. and Mrs. Mast - specifically wove into their builder lobby's proposal the intention to relocate to the SW Quad parcel. This was their choice after Mr. Mast had earlier tried to situate the Florida House on the NW parcel, owned by the County. If Mr. Ziegler were more meticulous or attentive, he'd understand that "rumors" was not what the Board is dealing with.

    2. Any commissioner could easily have amended Mr. Moran's motion in line with Mr. Ziegler's point, but did not. In directing Staff to open discussions with the MSBIA, the motion makes no mention of excluding the Quad parcels.

This is not unlike various other board discussions that deal with topics that affect our community. When dealing with a specific plan for a stop sign or a setback, the Board will spend hours on picayune details, but here, when a very sensitive community asset is being singled out by the local area's largest developer lobby as the target location of a property it does not own, nor has ever had any interest in participating in (according to those intimately familiar with the history and work of the Florida House), the Board simply goes "yeah, sure," and moves on. 

I'll leave it to you to decide whether this is slipshod oversight, or the Board's way of protecting the interests of the Masts. 

Either way, the community is now alerted to a present threat to public land under the 12.6.19 easement. You can "say" it's protected, but the fact is, when the Board had a clear chance to qualify its motion to avert this possibility, it chose not to do so.

I hope this helps you and Staff to understand this community's concern.

Respectfully,

Tom Matrullo

Citizens for Sarasota County

====

Response received 5.5.22:

Good afternoon Mr. Matrullo

 

Thank you very much for your email.

 

I have provided the link to the board assignment below:

https://www.scgov.net/home/showdocument?id=55559&t=637871927228885579 

 

Thank you for your feedback and effort in making the county better.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Desiree Casanova

County Administration Office

=====

The link Ms. Casanova shared goes to a full staff report on the Florida House, which includes some options staff thought worth considering: 

                                    Image courtesy of the Sarasota News Leader

Useful Links for Quad Update

Below links go to Background on the SW Quad - the one James Gabbert wanted for his WTF (Waste Transfer Facility). The Board is now promoting a plan to move the Florida House to this Quad Parcel - in violation of the Easement the County granted with unanimous Board Approval in December 2020.

Thanks to Adrien Lucas for the information.

Useful Links, Supporting Material & Some Helluva Good Press from the Past Week!

Conservation concepts roll out for Sarasota County-owned Quads land Observer, Eric Garwood | February 20, 2022 Sarasota County Commissioners decide land near the Celery Fields will be conserved ABC Channel 7 by Rick Adams | November 6, 2019 Celery Fields Protest Video presented to the Sarasota County Commissioners at the November 6 hearing. Filmed by Daniel Perales, produced by Adrien Lucas Sarasota County residents rally for Celery Fields and denounce ‘groundhog politics’ Herald Tribune by Anna Bryson | November 2, 2019 Video Celery Fields Protest Live to VOD recordings of WWSB's newscasts ABC Channel 7 by Taylor Torregano | November 1, 2019 Organizers plan 'Last Stand for Celery Hill' protest Saturday ABC Channel 7 by Taylor Torregano | November 1, 2019 SEIDMAN: Déjà vu all over again at Celery Fields Herald Tribune by Carrie Seidman | Octobert 31, 2019 After the Nov. 2 rally for Celery Fields Citizen's for Sarasota County Blog by Tom Matrullo | November 3, 2019 On Nov. 6, County Commission to discuss draft staff report that includes development options for Quads property next to Celery Fields Sarasota News Leaser by Rachel Brown Hackney |October 24, 2019 Fresh Start for the Celery Fields, a real time blog holding any and all things related to the Celery Fields and Sarasota County government. Great place to learn what we are up against. This is a useful site for appropriate cut and paste sentences for writing why you oppose the sale of the Quads. Comment on Critical Area Plan for the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields, a breakdown on the proposed county staff Celery Field Quad CAP analysis to Sarasota planner Mr. Kirk. A video of Fresh Start's presentation to the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners on Sept. 12, 2018 that apparently fell on deaf ears. Click here to View. ===== Image from Sarasota News Leader depicting ambitious proposal from the Building Industry Lobby The Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association - a local developer lobbyist group - proposes for the SW Quad a showcase that would feature the construction industry. Originally proposed for the NW parcel which the county still retains, the group has now switched to the SW parcel.

Board to consider proposal to dedicate a Quad Parcel to builders

Mike Moran and Al Maio – the two commissioners who voted for James Gabbert’s giant, outdoor debris pulverizing plant on the SW Quad parcel – are now pushing a building lobbyist's proposal that would put a builder's showcase there, despite the fact that the proposal violates the Conservation Easement approved by the Board in 2020.

M&M were joined by Cutsinger and Ziegler in the 4-1 vote to fast-track the BIA proposal.

Excerpts below are from the 4.29.22 Sarasota News Leader article.

With Detert objecting, County Commission authorizes staff to negotiate with Manatee-Sarasota Business Industry Association to take over Florida House lease and move building 

April 28, 2022 by Rachel Brown Hackney, Editor & Publisher

Making the motion, Commissioner Moran calls for ‘plenty of public input’ on proposal during future board meeting

Commissioner Michael Moran this week won the support of his other three colleagues to authorize county staff to start negotiating with the Manatee-Sarasota Business Industry Association over the future of the Florida House.

Formally, Moran specified county talks with the Business Industry Association (MSBIA) “and/or any nonprofit that’s affiliated with [it]” to take over the county’s lease of the 4454 S. Beneva Road site in Sarasota where the Florida House stands. That lease will end on June 30, 2027, county staff has noted.

Further, Moran called for allowing the MSBIA or the nonprofit to move the building before that lease expires.

The MSBIA has created a nonprofit organization called the Building Industry Institute....

The MSBIA proposal in a June 7, 2021 letter from its CEO, Jon Mast, to County Administrator Jonathan Lewis — plus comments from MSBIA board member Teresa Mast, who addressed the commissioners at an Open to the Public comment period during the commission’s Feb. 8 meeting — included the desire to move the Florida House to one of the Quads. Those four county-owned parcels are adjacent to the Celery Fields.

Although the latter area officially is a county stormwater management project, it also is an internationally known bird-watching destination.

In October 2020, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a conservation easement over the Southwest, Southeast and Northeast Quads, in collaboration with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, which is based in Osprey, and the Sarasota Audubon Society.

The MSBIA has shifted its focus to a Southwest Quad site. ...

Detert said she objected to Moran’s motion. “We haven’t had a lot of meetings about it,” she began. “We probably need to.” ....

She said she believed all of the commissioners have met with MSBIA representatives one-on-one. “You’re kind of writing a motion in favor of one corporation,” she told Moran. ....

When Chair Alan Maio called for the vote on Moran’s motion, Detert repeated her objection to it. The motion passed 4-1.

. . . leaders of the Florida House Institute — which has become Southface Sarasota — have adamantly expressed opposition to the MSBIA proposal.

... former Florida House director Matt Ross, who founded the company Eco$mart, in 1993, stressed to the commissioners during public comments on Feb. 23 that in his 29 years of working with the Florida House, he had “not seen the [MSBIA’s] presence at all.”

When the Florida House suffered through “lean times” in the early 2000s, Ross continued, “Where was the builders’ association? They weren’t there.”

MSBIA head Jon Mast

...

Notes below on key points -

===========

Some key takeaways:

1. The Board chose to promote one proposal – from a lobby, the Manatee/Sarasota Building Industry Association BIA – over Commissioner Detert’s motion to hear from staff about several options for the Florida House.

2. The BIA Lobby wishes to take for its own use a parcel that was given to the people of Sarasota (via two Environmental Non-profits, Sarasota Audubon and the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast) to protect a bird nesting preserve and to foster community with a civic use – a Sarasota history archive, for example.

3. The BIA Lobby wants to rezone the SW Quad to ILW – Industry, light manufacturing, warehouse – apparently not finding any incompatibility with the Conservation Easement.

4. The county’s own documents and Conservation Easement reflect the fact that the intent of the Conservation Easement was for civic or government use, and use by a private organization is expressly disallowed by its terms.

5. Those who have had long and intimate participation in the Florida House say the Lobby has lied in pretending to have helped the Florida House when it needed it, or taken any interest in it before now.

Citizens for Sarasota County (CSC) is a coalition founded in 2014 to promote ethical, responsive government that preserves and enhances Sarasota's unique natural environment and cultural heritage while building a sound local economy based on effective stewardship and innovation. 

Rumble Report 3.29.2022

Below is a transcript of notes shared on Facebook by one attendee during the Sarasota County Board discussion of what to do about Rumble, the alt-right online platform that somehow discovered Sarasota (through Enterprise Florida, according to Commissioner Ziegler). 

Here's the "trending" page on Rumble taken the day before the hearing:

Last fall, the Board gave the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota the OK to explore a prospective deal that would give $825,000 tax dollars as incentive to the company to move its headquarters here. A building has been identified as Rumble HQ on Longboat Key, but does not appear to yet be occupied. No money has yet been approved - the deal is still in the works.

On March 29, 2022, citizens attended the Board meeting seeking to speak to the issue. They were concerned that this platform, which consistently trends toward nonsense about the last presidential election being stolen and similar themes, would receive tax dollars. Prior to the meeting, over 1500 citizens had signed a Petition calling for any deal with Rumble to be quashed.

There was also disgust that Rumble offers one of the only platforms where Russian Television (RT) can be accessed outside of Russia. RT is Putinganda, a myopic self-justifying view of the invasion of Ukraine where even the word "war" is not permitted to be used.

A contingent of Ukrainian citizens, mostly from North Port, attended the meeting, some with flags. One man from Ukraine spoke eloquently about the deep division between Ukrainians and Russians. He said Russian media always lies, and worried that it would take footage from platforms like Rumble, twist it to its own purposes, and use it to support Putin's effort to overpower Ukraine.

Instead of beginning the official meeting with Open to the Public, Commission Chair Al Maio asked the Board to discuss what to do regarding the EDC idea of awarding tax dollars. The discussion became protracted as Commissioner Ziegler presented all the reasons he sees as valid to incentivize a media platform like Rumble to come to the county - jobs, basically.

Eventually Maio allowed a few citizens to address the issue, but told others who had come to speak that they would have to wait until later in the day - possibly to the end of the meeting.

Below are brief notes on the Board discussion leading up to the curious way in which two Commissioners' proffered motions to resolve the Rumble morass tumbled, or fumbled, into a bumbling virtual stalemate.

Notes from the BCC meeting, taken live 3.29.22:

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Commissioner Detert at beginning of meeting moves that the County takes no further steps toward offering a tax dollar incentive to Rumble for moving to Sarasota County. Seconded by Cutsinger.

Commissioner Ziegler taking a large amount of time going through the presented justifications for bringing Rumble to Sarasota - without actually taking a stand on the motion.

Ziegler wants to amend Detert's motion - he wants the Board to discontinue all economic incentives via the EDC. Moran, who has been critical of the EDC in the past, supports Zig's amendment. Detert speaks against Zig's amendment and does not wish to make a decision on all economic incentives today.

Commissioner Ziegler's amendment to the motion passes 3-2 (Cutsinger, Zig, and Moran for, Detert and Maio against).

Ziegler is now saying he will oppose Detert's motion - he sees people opposing Rumble as "cancel culture" and advocating false information.

Detert's motion is up for a vote, but now she is saying that having passed Zig's amendment, her motion is moot. The county atty says they still need to vote on the main motion, which included Zig's amendment.

Detert's motion FAILS (Moran, Ziegler, and Cutsinger vote no). This cancels Ziegler's motion - he just voted against his own amendment.

Ziegler moves to table the discussion to end all economic incentives until the Board's next meeting. Maio seconds.

Detert says the EDC should be invited to the meeting at which ending all taxpayer incentives will be discussed.

Board unanimously approves motion to postpone discussion of taxpayer incentives.

In brief: the Board punted. There was no decision about Rumble, and none on the amendment to cancel all economic incentives. The Board's dodge has put discussion and any decision on the Rumble taxpayer incentive off to a later meeting.

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When available, a link to the official video of the Board meeting will be posted here.

Background:

WUSF / NPR

https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/politics-issues/2022-03-28/rumble-still-airs-russia-state-controlled-news-channel-headquarters-could-soon-be-in-sarasota

New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/business/media/rumble-social-media-conservatives-videos.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/parler-rumble-newsmax.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/10/technology/parler-app-trump-free-speech.html