CCNA elects board

The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations on Jan. 7 elected its new executive board and discussed the fate of the Lido Beach Pool and Pavilion.

Bob Easterle was elected chairman; Barbara London as District 1 representative, Susan Chapman as District 2 representative; and Kate Lowman as District 3 representative.

After the elections, Lido Key Residents Association President Carl Shoffstall stressed the importance of keeping the Lido Beach Pool and Pavilion open to the public.

“It’s really one of the last public places out there,” Shoffstall said. “We need to review the viable options to keep it that way.”

Despite concerns from some city officials, the association believes the pool and pavilion could be self-sustaining but that the structure alone isn’t enough to draw the patrons needed to make this possible. Shoffstall emphasized the need for renovations.

“The pool needs to draw more people,” Shoffstall said. “We’d like to see a tiki bar, outdoor seating and shade structures that can provide the community with activities and multiple uses.”

The CCNA voted unanimously to support the Lido Key Residents Association when the plan goes before the city commission. Despite speculations that plans for a new downtown hotel included taking control of the pool and pavilion, City Manager Bob Bartolotta clarified that there were no current proposals for this, and that any mention of the pool and pavilion was more of an afterthought.

“The City Commission is currently negotiating with developers to find the best option,” Bartolotta said.