Our view

The faces said it all.

An hour into the Longboat Key Town Commission discussion Monday night of beach bond issues, Town Manager Bruce St. Denis sat grim faced, eyes narrowing from exhaustion and mental torture, his fist pushed against his cheek, propping up his browbeaten head, his lips the outline of an upside-down cereal bowl. He was not having fun.

At the other end of the Town Commission dais sat an equally tired Commissioner Hal Lenobel, his eyes narrowing and somewhat glazed by the circular, wandering and often frustrating discussion. But Lenobel also had an ever-so-slight grin, apparently bemused by all of the déjà vu. Indeed, at one point he said, “I have heard these lyrics for 13 years.”

It made you shift in your seat, watching this. We left the chambers at 10:50 p.m., six commissioners still talking, not agreeing, on what to do next. They stayed another hour before making a partial decision (see page 1A).

If you tried to distill this debate, it may be accurate to say — we’re not sure anyone actually was clear — it was whether the Town Commission should draft a 75-word question on whether voters should approve a bond issue for another round of beach renourishment. The dollar amount was/is one of the key points of contention. Should it be $45 million, $40 million, $35 million, $36 million?

And should it be for entire beach renourishment? Or should it just include the north Longboat Key hot spot?

While the commissioners decided for the time being to go for a $10 million bond referendum next spring to address the north-end erosion, truth is, there still is much to be determined and remains confusing.

This issue is really complicated.

As we noted last week, we don’t envy the commissioners. There are a lot of moving parts. And it’s definitely not, to use another analogous cliché, black and white.

Nonetheless, it would be helpful for taxpayers to try to sort out Monday night’s commission haggling and indecision, because this issue is indeed big and important. Potentially, the cost could be three times the size of the annual town budget.

As we observed Monday night’s proceedings, it was apparent two of the leading voices and points of view were those of Commissioners David Brenner and Bob Siekmann. The third-leading perspective was that of the town manager. Call it “new thinking” versus “old thinking.” St. Denis might put it this way: inexperienced well-meaning beach-erosion commissioners versus experienced beach-erosion town manager. Or: “Let’s try something different” versus “fine, but it won’t work; trust me, I’ve been there.”

Commissioner Brenner’s view: If the commission puts a bond-issue question on the March 2011 ballot asking for approval to spend $35 million to $45 million on an unspecified beach renourishment project, voters will reject it. As he contends (rightly so), given the state of the U.S. economy and retirees’ retirement accounts, taxpayers are not in the mood to approve a bond issue that could be as much as 60% greater than the last major beach bond issue. They need to be convinced that spending that amount of money is the best choice and alternative.

Here’s the nub of Brenner’s argument: The Town Commission needs to demonstrate and show voters that it has thoroughly examined all other possible methods to address beach erosion before it dredges and dumps another 1.5 million cubic yards of powder-white sand on the beach. Convince voters convincingly that dredge and dump is the most effective and economic way to go. Then propose a bond issue.
 

As Lenobel succinctly asked after more than an hour of circular discussion: “Are you suggesting we delay (the bond vote) a year?” Brenner: “Yes.”

Siekmann’s view: His is similar to Brenner’s on voters’ mood. And he agrees the town administration should do additional, thorough research on other options to dredging and dumping and bond financing. In particular, he said, “I am wondering if it is now time to reconsider” the town’s historical practice of Longboat taxpayers financing the vast majority of beach projects. In other words, try to get federal money.
Town manager’s view: Then, there is the veteran St. Denis, who has been here through at least three major beach projects. Talk about Dr. No.

When Longboat Key resident Robert Bernhard urged the commission to go ahead with a free trial of the Sandgrabber method of erosion-control, St. Denis responded with a long explanation, taking no breaths, on why it wouldn’t work.

When Commissioner Siekmann urged St. Denis to apply for federal money, St. Denis responded with how there is “a low probability of ever seeing any money”; that it’s an expensive process even to try; and that previous commissions have looked at it and decided against it.

In other words, for St. Denis all of Monday’s gnashing and hashing about alternatives amounts to “been there, done that.”

You could see it in his face. He had to be thinking: How many times do I have to beat my head against the wall? We’ve looked at all of these options. They won’t work.

St. Denis’ point of view clearly exasperated Siekmann. “We always seem to hear we can’t do it,” Siekmann said. “There are either birds or turtles or something. It’s always impossible.”

Complicating this standoff is the $5 million dangling out there from Port Dolphin, the firm that wants to install a natural-gas pipeline through the town’s future borrow pits in the gulf. Port Dolphin has agreed to pay the town $5 million if the company goes through with its project. And there’s a deadline on that $5 million. St. Denis doesn’t want to lose that money; a few commissioners believe the town will never see it no matter what.

It’s too bad this issue is so complicated with multiple choices with multiple consequences and so mired in the commissioners’ varying views. The indecision that results doesn’t reflect well on the commission or on St. Denis. Will this be his Waterloo?

As much as it may pain him, it seems as though St. Denis needs to rise up and take charge. Go through the excercise one more time to show commissioners and taxpayers what they want to know:

• Will other beach-erosion methods work on Longboat Key? Show us. Try to do the free Sandgrabber demonstration.

• Is it unrealistic for the town to try to obtain federal or state funding for renourishment in the future? Assign a town staffer to do a report showing what’s involved; show taxpayers the experience of other communities that have tried. How much does it cost? How long would it take? Answer the questions.

+ Health care for Longboat
Be sure to read Longboat Key resident and physician consultant David Novak’s letter to the editor on page 7A.

Novak offers an astute suggestion in response to Community Editor Robin Hartill’s report last week on Boca Grande’s not-for-profit healthcare foundation.

Longboat Key physician Dr. Pamela Letts may not agree with Novak’s idea. But Novak is right. Before Longboaters organize a not-for-profit health foundation, taxpayers could and should exert some pressure on Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Longboat’s Sarasota County residents are already paying taxes to subsidize SMH. Why should it be subsidized to operate in northeast Manatee and not Longboat Key?

Mar Vista vote: A shocker

For longtime observers of the Longboat Key Town Commission and its attitude toward Key businesses, Monday night was a shocker.

Times have indeed changed.

The Town Commission voted unanimously, with almost no discussion of any consequence, to approve the second-story addition of Ed Chiles’ Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub.

Ten, 15, even five years ago, Chiles’ proposal more than likely would have drawn protracted protests over the standard list of NIMBY complaints — too much traffic, blocking the sunlight, out of character in the neighborhood, not enough landscaping, not enough parking, disruptive construction noise, ugly and smelly dumpsters.

But there was none of that. Repeat: None of that.

When you saw the look of longtime Longboat Key businesswoman Marnie Matarese after the vote, she was so shocked at the 7-0 vote and how smoothly the application went through the commission, you would have thought she saw a ghost.

Fact is, Chiles’ proposal was virtually airtight. He had everything covered and in compliance with the town codes — more parking than required, an elevator for disabled and an inch or two below height limits. There was nothing for the Town Commission to oppose. As town planner Rick Hartman told the Town Commission: “It’s totally within code requirements.”

This is indeed a positive step in the annals of Longboat Key business. A longtime business owner is committing to a major reinvestment that will enhance his and the entire neighborhood’s property. And this will help the perception of Longboat’s overall business climate. If a longtime business owner such as Chiles is willing to make this kind of commitment, it will boost the confidence of others, who may follow suit.

Overall, the winners will be Longboat Key diners. The Mar Vista project doesn’t add any more tables; 13 of the existing tables will be moved to the second story. The restaurant plans to expand its downstairs retail area.

But when completed, diners will have even more magnificent views of the bay, and (this is the kicker for longtime Mar Vista customers) all new bathrooms!

As the saying goes: Woo-hoo!