BOOK 45 Page 17777 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 1998, AT 1:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Jerome Dupree, Vice Mayor Nora Patterson, Commissioners Mollie Cardamone, David Merrill, and Gene Pillot, City Manager David Sollenberger, City Auditor and Clerk Billy Robinson, and City Attorney Richard Taylor ABSENT: : None PRESIDING: Mayor Jerome Dupree The meeting was called to order in accordance with Article III, Section 9(b) of the Charter of the City of Sarasota at 1:05 p.m. City Auditor and Clerk Robinson gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. PRESENTATION RE: : FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITYL FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED THE FINAL REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY STUDY SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSING AND EDUCATION SECTIONS #1 (0057) through #3 (0725) Douglas James, Chief Planner, came before the Commission and introduced the following Project and Task Managers: David Aimen, Manager of Planning and Economics, and Pierre Vilain, Principal Economist, Louis Berger and Associates, Inc.; Jay Stein, Ph.D., AICP, Jay M. Stein and Associates; Sherry Carter, AICP, Urban Planner, and Staniey Carter, Law Enforcement Specialist, Carter & Carter Associates, and William Brisson, AICP, President, Adley Brisson Engman, Planners & Economists Inc. Mr. James stated that the purpose of the meeting is to present the conclusions of the Financial Sustainability Study (FSS); that the opportunity will be available for final adjustments after presentation of the results; that Staff recommends the Commission receive and refer to the Administration the FSS for evaluation and development of strategies to implement the recommended approaches. Mr. Aimen referred to the following reports which include the results of the FSS: Financial Sustainability Study, Volume I: Technical Documentation - Task Reports (Final Report, Volume I) Financial Sustainability Study, Volume II: Alternative Policy, Strategies, Programs and Initiatives for Possible Implementation, (Final Report, Volume II) Mr. Aimen referred further to the following document which summarizes the results of the FSS: Presentation for Volume II, Alternative Policy, Strategies, Programs and Initiatives for Possible Implementation Presentation Report, Volume II) Mr. Aimen stated that the Presentation Report, Volume II, contains a summary of recommended alternative policies, strategies, programs and initiatives and will be the primary focus of the discussion; that the Final Report, Volume I, contains the Task IV Final Report, Public Participation, which was not previously presented to the Commission and which provides a summary of the public participation activities conducted throughout the FSS, with particular emphasis on the public forum held on September 12, 1998. Vice Mayor Patterson left the Commission Chambers at 1:07 p.m. Commissioner Cardamone stated that considerable praise was received for the public forum including the format, the breakout groups, and the speakers; that people are still talking about the public forum which was very successful communitywide. Vice Mayor Patterson returned to the Commission Chambers at 1:10 p.m. Mr. James stated that Dr. Stein did an excellent job of moderating and Staff of organizing the public forum; that the public turnout was good. Mr. Aimen stated that the Final Report, Volume I, includes the following task reports: Task I Final Report, Methodology Paper Task II Final Report, Historical Baseline Research Task III Final Report, Socioeconomic and Fiscal Projections and Relevant Case Studies Task IV Final Report, Public Participation Mr. Aimen stated that the Task I and II Final Reports are predominantly a review of socio-economic conditions, the City's fiscal condition, the history and trends in the City in relation to the larger region, the City's competitive position and strategic advantages, and an exploration of the data sets; that the Task III Final Report includes a forecasting of the future; that the Final Report, Volume II, presents policies, programs, initiatives, and possible actions; that many strategies being presented are not intended to cause financial strain on the City or be highly costly; that some strategies may require some investment but also incorporate working together, using the data and existing resources more effectively, and leveraging community BOOK 45 Page 17778 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17779 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. resources; that an exceptional number of skilled people live in, visit and have a stake in the community, all of whom can be used as volunteer resources. Commissioner Pillot left the Commission Chambers at 1:11 p.m. Mr. Aimen stated that the theme of the public forum evolved into the City's freedom to make its own destiny; that the City is free through planning and actions to change and improve the City's future; that coordination and collaboration are required; that the presenters at the public forum included: George Latimer, award-winning Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, a former undersecretary in the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and former President of the National League of Cities, whose spirit resonates with the philosophy of "Control your Destiny" Jonathan Barnett, expert in urban design and author of The Elusive City, Urban Design as Public Policy, The Fractured Metropolis and other books, who showed the destiny of the City can be effectuated through design Harriet Plyler, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in Tampa, Florida, who discussed working in a lower-income community, taking advantage of available resources and bringing in mixed-income projects Michelle Whitten, Enterprise Foundation in New York, New York, who demonstrated a style of planning which allows taking advantage of available resources and competitive strengths, the importance of partnership planning, approaches to use education in targeting youth for the construction trades, neighborhood approaches to the local school board to assure consideration of the needs of the neighborhoods and the people in the community. Commissioner Merrill left the Commission Chambers at 1:15 p.m. Mr. Aimen stated that the public forum was well attended by 170 people; that a video recording of the event is available for review; that a questionnaire of the attendees at the public forum was conducted. Commissioner Pillot returned to the Commission Chambers at 1:18 p.m. Ms. Carter stated that four local architects, Thorning Little of Wm. Thorning Little Architects, P.A., Robert Steuber, AIA, of Architecture, Mark Smith, AIA, of Smith Architects, P.A., and Sam Holladay, AIA, of Seibert Architects, P.A., facilitated workshops concerning specific geographic areas of the City; that attendees were able to talk with someone who was listening; that local talent is available for use in the neighborhood planning process; that the questionnaire concerned what was liked about the City and the differences between the City and the County; that attendees at the public forum were encouraged to say whatever came to mind; that a major outcome of the public forum was the awareness that the public desires information; that the recommendations include bringing together meaningful information for use for the City's as well as the public's use; that the questionnaire also identified a desire by the respondents to create pride and identify for the neighborhoods. Ms. Carter continued that the study focused on some neighborhoods farther away from Downtown; that people are most interested in their own neighborhood and the development of plans for their neighborhood; that residents' expectations are considerable in requesting personal attention to neighborhood planning, which is a significant challenge to the City; that the City must attempt to meet the expectations with a reasonable use of resources; that youth development should receive emphasis since the realization exists that the future of the City is in the hands of future generations recognizing that ten years is a short period of time; that the millage rate and taxes were not a large issue at the public forum, possibly due to measures already taken in the Cityi that some issues on the questionnaire did not receive any response, such as the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) and the dual taxation issue involving the County Sheriff's Department. Commissioner Merrill returned to the Commission Chambers at 1:20 p.m. Ms. Carter stated that the issues included in the Final Report, Volume II, are listed in order of popularity. Commissioner Cardamone asked if the term "order of popularity" means "order of priority. Ms. Carter stated that the information received from each person at the public forum dictated priority. Ms. Carter stated that the current Commission was involved in determining the City's vision as follows: A City of Urban Amenities With Small Town Living and Feeling Ms. Carter continued that the City's vision contains interrelated social and economic issues; that the City's financial sustainability is tied to the City's quality of life; that one recommendation is that the economic vitality component be amended by adding a component concerning quality education and training opportunities; that the common denominator of a family's ability to perform is the level of education and the training opportunities; that high priority is given to quality education even though the City is limited in the ability to control education; that the overall vision and goals must include BOOK 45 Page 17780 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17781 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. education and training; that the intent of the recommendation is to: Benefit general social and economic welfare Target needs of particular populations or areas Increase attractiveness to and retention of middle-income households Raise property values, encourage private investment and reduce rising service expenditures Ms. Carter stated that the study team attempted, and the Commission should also attempt, to give priority to strategies serving multiple goals and objectives as the most effective; that an example is construction training for young adults as three objectives are accomplished: 1) increasing abilities to earn income, 2) increasing the skills of the labor pool, and 3) providing labor for a task required by the City which is the rehabilitation of housing stock; that the City's past pertormance should also be reviewed; that the City has done an excellent job Downtown; that criteria should be created for evaluation of future efforts from a Citywide prospective; that a financial sustainability model should be developed to set goals and monitor success, assist with resource allocation, and provide information to the public on an annual basis; that procedures for team review of the collected data should be established with an emphasis on assuring representation from various departments such as the Engineering, Planning, Police, and Neighborhoods and Redevelopment departments; that geographic areas should be selected incorporating all areas of the City to identify investments, choose indicators, compile and review the data periodically, and make such information available to the public; that the model is closely aligned with the neignborhood planning process. Ms. Carter stated Eurther that three tiers of data-driven information exist: a Citywide level, a sector level, and a neighborhood level; that both quantitative and qualitative data and should be reviewed annually by a team; that the benefits allow the City to assess the impact of City initiatives and policies to detect any warning signs, declines, or disorders sO goals can be established to measure success or failure; that the data can also be used for grant application purposes; that a Citywide "snapshot " is a very simplified way of looking at critical data and should include: Land Use Characteristics Property Value Information Public Safety Demands Building Permits Code Violations Transit Use Demographic Factors Mayor Dupree asked why the term "code violations I was selected rather than "code entorcement practices"? Ms. Carter stated that the term "code violations" implies an indication of a disorder within the community; that the data demonstrates the characteristics of the City; that disorder is an indicator of the characteristics of the City; that for example, automobiles are parked on lawns, garages have been converted to extra rooms, and residents are forced into a code violation situation as parking is disallowed on the streets in one neighborhood; that available space in the neighborhood should be investigated to prevent on-street parking and parking on lawns; that code enforcement practices should be investigated as well; that the data collected will indicate how well the City is doing compared to other cities and the County. Ms. Carter continued that the second tier in the planning process is the sector level, which is an effort to present a picture on a more reasonable basis but not down to the neighborhood level; that many neighborhoods share characteristics and similarities; that regional issues should also be addressed which cannot effectively be addressed at a Citywide or neighborhood level; that the recommendation is that five sectors be established; that the use of sectors has been controversial in the past; that census tracts are data oriented; that the City is only 11 square miles in size; that each proposed sector is an average of two square miles; that the divisions are simple with a downtown, north, east, west, and south sector; that these sectors share characteristics such as roads and major facilities; that the sector level provides a method of showing where capital improvements are being made to assure monitoring the impact over time; that a suggestion is that teams be assigned to the sectors; that methods are available to work with areas not formally organized; that presently the method is neighborhoods are responsible for being organized and for approaching the City; however, some of the least organized neighborhoods cost the City money and lose value; that sectors provide the City a method of monitoring those areas and being more proactive. Commissioner Cardamone asked if the areas devaluing and costing additional monies are the predominately tenant-occupied areas? Ms. Carter stated not necessarily; that some areas have a fairly high home - ownership rate and yet do not have neighborhood associations. BOOK 45 Page 17782 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17783 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. Commissioner Cardamone stated that many tenants with no ownership in property would not think of becoming involved; that the possibility is the preponderance of tenants versus owners creates the situation. Ms. Carter stated that in some neighborhoods both husbands and wives work and raise children and do not have time to get involved; that a number of reasons could be responsible for people not becoming involved; that the City's interest lies in looking at these areas to determine if an association exists as these areas cost the City moneyi that field observations are suggested as walking through a neighborhood is a way of determining what is happening; that Shade Avenue was recently visited; that the number of improvements and the use of space is impressive. Mayor Dupree asked if a neighborhood association indicates an area is organized? Ms. Carter stated that an association is indicative of organization; that some areas have become organized and have worked with the City; that the City is not neglecting specific areas merely if help is not requested; that many issues can be considered at the sector level which will eliminate part of the work of the neighborhood planning process; that information and contacts with people in the neighborhood will be provided; that a person can define themselves in a neighborhood and in a sector; that data for grant applications is by sector and is more specific than Citywide but larger than a neighborhood; that the use of sector data will help in the grant application process. Ms. Carter continued that the third tier of the planning process is the neighborhood level where the public becomes more actively involved and is the labor-intensive part of the planning process; that utilizing the three-tiered planning process will save time in data collection; that having the four local architects facilitate the public forum was an experiment; that design protessionals should be part of the solution; that advance involvement of design professionals is more efficient due to familiarity with costs from a design perspective; that professionals are accustomed to satisfying clients by taking the information and producing a working design solution; that resources could be expanded by doing multiple plans at the same time and sharing ideas if professionals are coordinated and work under the direction of the Department of Neighborhoods and Redevelopment; that the City could become involved in project- and site-specific issues and conflict resolution at the neighborhood level. Mr. Aimen stated that the financial sustainability model emphasizes the Citywide and City sector levels; that the Task II Final Report containing the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping has census-related and also City-related information and is a good guide to appropriate information which can be collected annually; that performance monitoring can be accomplished through annual collection; that early in the project, the question was posed as to resource allocation and the adequacy of the return on resources; that the City has the technology now with the GIS; that the digital data is now available and easy to use, is a report that can be outsourced or collected and can form a foundation for some forms of communication about performance, providing the Commission the opportunity as a decision-making body to understand changes; that outcomes should be measured; that an understanding of capital improvement expenditures and communication and coordination with the Housing and Community Development Department concerning housing expenditures are necessary; that charts can be developed to determine if, over time, the desired charges in neighborhoods and sectors are occurring; that decisions can be made such as if investments in beautification is better than housing; that questions can be answered through building a financial sustainability model and with data; that the City should organize the collection of data. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the City should review an area five or ten years later to determine the return on investment if, for example, the City spends a considerable amount of money for a streetscape in a neighborhood; and asked if the recommendation is for the City to look at the return on investment? Mr. Aimen stated that realistic criteria for making decisions should be developed; that decisions cannot be reduced solely to a return on investment, which should be one of several criteria. Commissioner Cardamone stated that determining the return on investment is difficult. Mr. Aimen stated that a neighborhood could be informed of the amount of money spent in a neighborhood and could assist in determining if the investment resulted in other positive changes; that the data is available for the City to understand; that an opportunity can be filled; that many understand how the Housing and Community Development Department is spending its money and on what neighborhood; and that an opportunity is presented to send the information back via the City's website or the neighborhood planning process. Mr. Aimen continued that production of an Annual Financial Sustainability Report will require a person dedicated to that activity; that specialized technical personnel will be necessaryi; that one person's time will be required to coordinate with all the departments to assure quality and the information going into the financial sustainability model has some value for decision making; that quality review of the data requires participation of various departments; that the person responsible for overseeing development of an Annual Financial Sustainability Report must understand the data; that a skilled operator is required to BOOK 45 Page 17784 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17785 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. prepare the mapping and print out the reports, which is very labor intensive. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that measurable criteria should be identified before justifying the hiring of a person to develop the mapping; that knowledge of the types of criteria is necessary. Ms. Carter referred to Appendix A, Final Report, Volume II, which provides a financial sustainability model including criteria for the Annual Financial Sustainability Report; that a significant level of coordination takes place between departments in the City; that a person dedicated solely to this purpose might not be necessary. Mr. Aimen agreed. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the criteria indicated is common sense. Ms. Carter stated that the Planning Department compiles various types of information; that much of the information is contained in the Final Report, Volumes I and II; that the City is accustomed to bringing information together; however, selecting the most valuable information, compiling the information in one place, and making the information available are important. Commissioner Cardamone stated that several years experience is necessary to use the information as a decision-making tool; that the information could be used in trying to decide between a streetscape improvement or investment in housing stock. Ms. Carter stated that the decision-making process can be done on a more practical level; that needs can be identified such as the existence of high crime in an area with no youth facilities if the information is compiled; that developing new strategies or directions or reallocating resources will occur naturally if people are informed and have a better understanding of the community; that two or three years of data is necessary to realize the benefit of compiling the information. Mr. Aimen stated that some historical information has already been compiled and is available; that building the data with the information already available is possible; that the study team built some data sets, for example, the analysis of crime over the last seven or eight years. Ms. Carter stated that the City had been monitoring North Tamiami Trail for several years; that every year the information on building permits is updated; that the entire package of improvements makes the difference. Commissioner Cardamone stated the entire picture is important; that convincing successful neighborhoods to approach the City to make investments in other neighborhoods is important; that everyone in the City should be educated as to the benefits for upgrading neighborhoods everywhere; that ideally, a specific neighborhood will request improvements in another neighborhood for the benefit of the entire City; that the financial success of the City is in neighborhood interaction. Ms. Carter stated that sector level review encourages people to see who is around them and what is happening; that the U.S. Census Track I was used to create the boundaries for the Downtown Vision Plan as using an entire census track is easier; that Third Street was not considered part of Downtown when the Downtown Vision Plan was developed; that including the area around Third Street in the Downtown Vision Plan resulted in people active in Downtown viewing the area north of Third Street as part of Downtown and demanding mprovements; that the motel owners on North Tamiami Trail began exchanging ideas with others in the entire area; that efforts were made for positive change for everyone. Commissioner Cardamone referred to Table 4.1.1 entitled "Ranking of Questionnaire Responses" in the Final Report, Volume I; and stated that property taxes being last in priority among expressed concerns seems incredible; that an opportunity may exist to sell reinvestment in the City to people who are not concerned about property taxes. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the City's more affluent neighborhoods are very tolerant of having tax dollars spent in less affluent areas of the City; that seldom has anyone who pays high taxes complained about an investment in a less affluent neighborhood; that certain basic amenities the more affluent and moderately affluent neighborhoods do not have at all are basics of more affluent suburbs outside the City which pay lower taxes; that amenities such as drainage, curb, and gutters are ordinarily supplied by developers in newer areas; that people will be remarkably tolerant of sharing with lower income neighborhoods if basic, ordinary services are provided to the most affluent neighborhoods incrementally every year; that the question of "What are we getting for our dollar?" arises and can be answered by giving value back to those paying high or moderate taxes; that basic amenities such as new street lights on Bird Key is an example of giving value back; that the Commission should be pushed to continue neighborhood improvements; that the Commission has not seen an example of a neighborhood requesting improvements for a different neighborhood. Mr. Carter stated that the City's reverse osmosis plant is an example of a capital investment with a long-term benefit to the City; that the investment was controversial at the time but provided a Citywide benefit; that the City has several shining examples which continue as an emphasis to follow the same pattern; that of all of the traffic calming measures, the one which slows traffic the most is speed bumps; that the efforts BOOK 45 Page 17786 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17787 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. cannot always be quantified or mapped; that the City's population has been proven at greater than 50,000 with daily County influx even though not mapped at one time. Commissioner Merrill stated that speed bumps are an inconvenience; however, the City's residents are responding to the challenges of the day; that the main concern is public taxes; that the concern over taxes has faded possibly due to the changes made by the City; that the public voted in favor of the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) extension also called the penny sales tax possibly due to the issue of infrastructure; that another issue in the City is the difference between taxes in the City and the County; that residents near the City limits realize their taxes are possibly one third higher than a County resident only two blocks away; that taxes are relative to a neighbor as well as to an absolute level. Commissioner Pillot referred to Table 4.1.1; and stated that the reason for the low ranking in priority for the need for more police may be obvious; that the average income of attendees at the public forum was likely above that of the average in Sarasota County; that the average educational level was likely above the tenth grade level; that affluent neighborhoods are less affected by crime than lower income neighborhoods and, therefore, do not require greater police representation. Ms. Carter stated that several design solutions are available to help with some problems in neighborhoods removed from or adjacent to Downtown; that the widening of Fruitville Road and Tuttle Avenue has impacted several neighborhoods; that various design solutions could be used to mitigate the impact of future road widenings. Commissioner Pillot left the Commission Chambers at 2:00 p.m. Commissioner Cardamone stated that some of the City's stormwater facilities are not attractively landscaped; that these facilities can be attractive and are an asset in some communities; that major improvements could be made. Commissioner Merrill stated that Bahia Vista Street could be improved with design solutions; that the homes along Bahia Vista Street are not well maintained; that Bahia Vista Street could be improved with medians rather than widening the street. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the center turn lanes on Bahia Vista Street are a poor use of a wide road and renders the neighborhood unattractive. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the entire length of Bahia Vista Street does not require medians which would be costly; that staggered medians similar to the medians on Orange Avenue would improve the appearance; that a visual problem exists on U. S. 301 where no strides have been made towards changes in setbacks in the Zoning Code when new projects are built and the City has very little undeveloped land. Ms. Carter stated that traffic can be slowed in neighborhoods by several methods; that good routes and waiting facilities might encourage the use of the Sarasota County Transit Authority (SCAT), which would reduce traffic in neighborhoods. Mayor Dupree stated that a challenge continually before policymakers is an increase is construction and development is desired but increased traffic results; that a limited amount of space is not available to create new, large carriers of traffic. Ms. Carter stated that transit is included in the FSS as a segment of the population does not have automobiles but requires transportation to training and jobs; that certain groups such as the elderly could benefit from improved transit. Ms. Carter continued that increased informational opportunities should be made available to the public; that one concern is code violation information; that people indicated an uncertainty regarding code violations and the process; that citizens felt one call would take care of the problem; that the citizens should be informed that a specific reporting process exists; that two or three calls may be necessary for action. Vice Mayor Patterson asked if a code violation requires two or three calls before action is taken? Ms. Carter stated that repeat offenses may require two or three calls. Commissioner Cardamone stated that a concern by the public concerning code violations is if the violator can determine the name of the reporting party; and asked if the name of the reporting party is required? City Manager Sollenberger stated no; however, the status of the complaint can be reported back if names are provided; that Staff has been instructed to advise reporting parties their names are not required. Commissioner Patterson asked if the names of reporting parties are released? City Manager Sollenberger stated that the complaint is a matter of public record and must be released. Mayor Dupree stated that many people do not know the proper place to report code violations. Ms. Carter stated that suggestions for getting the code violation information to the public include the newsletter, the City's Resource Guide, which could be updated, and the City's website; BOOK 45 Page 17788 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17789 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. that education at forums can be provided; that major public events with speakers are not required; that the Department of Neighborhoods and Redevelopment has discussed a neighborhood fair. Mayor Dupree asked if a certain kind or number of forums should be provided? Ms. Carter referred to the Final Report, Volume II, listing the following methods to increase informational opportunities for the public: Provide Code Violation Information to Citizens Update the City's Resource Guide for Neighborhoods Provide for Education Forums Expand the use of the City's Website to Provide Information to the Public Ms. Carter stated that social and educational events can provide an opportunity for citizens, City Staff and service providers to share information regarding rehabilitation opportunities for the City's housing stock and neighborhoods. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that forums for the purpose of education rather than participation represent a concern; that a small percentage of people are reached; that a better method is necessary for disseminating important information. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the City is developing a newsletter to neighborhoods which should provide important information. Ms. Carter referred to the Task II Final Report which included case studies demonstrating that neighborhood fairs and the sharing of success stories are successful; that Staff could attend neighborhood fairs to explain zoning, code, and building permit processes; that contractors could demonstrate accomplighments; that other communities have used such forums with success. Mr. Aimen stated that such forums often work well in situations with a large composition of older housing stock which will require increasing attention in coming years; that an annual forum or fair may be a joint effort with local vocational institutions creating an opportunity to bring in private sector contractors and architects; that the forums and fairs can demonstrate the City's accomplishments and capabilities; that some electrifying speakers could be engaged to discuss housing. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the possibility of an interest by people who abuse their property and their privilege of being a City resident in attending a fair to learn how to care for their property or to remodel is difficult to conceive. Ms. Carter stated that rehabilitation with electrical, plumbing, and construction involved is not an easy process. Commissioner Cardamone stated that a recent gathering at Gillespie Park included an afternoon picnic, food, music, and many activities and appeared to interest residents in becoming involved; that the right people should sponsor these events; that the event provided activities to peak the interest of recognizing code violations and of inexpensive home remodeling; that the Department of Neighborhoods and Redevelopment has proposed a neighborhood fair. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that a shift in the priority of use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be helpful; that low-interest loans could be made through banks for home improvements for homes assessed under a certain value; that low- interest loans could be a catalyst for improvement; that lack of funds rather than lack of concern is an issue. Ms. Carter stated that the City has developed partnerships with community organizations in the past; that community organizations can have a positive impact, should be provided with the findings of the FSS, requested to consider some recommended programs in future development of activities, and assisted with the data support necessary for grant applications, particularly those targeting identified needs. Mayor Dupree asked if quality childcare has been identified as a community need? Ms. Carter stated that childcare is a community need identified in terms of economic development; that a basic need is for training and productive work; that the concern is care for children when parents must work and are not able to afford good childcare; that several churches and non-profit organizations may have specific projects already and not wish to change to other projects; however, some community organizations may be looking to meet the next community need; that no known employers provide childcare. Dr. Stein referred to the section entitled "Educational Strategies" in the Final Report, Volume II, which addresses childcare as part of the community/schol//neighborhood partnerships the City could develop; and stated that business leaders indicated on-site or easily accessible childcare is a community need; that retention and morale of workers would be higher if childcare is readily available; that taking more initiatives to encourage childcare centers would provide improvements in the community. Vice Mayor Patterson asked the possible City initiatives. BOOK 45 Page 17790 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17791 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. Dr. Stein stated that one possibility is leasing City-owned vacant space to a private provider of childcare. Vice Mayor Patterson asked if any facility receives City funds for childcare? City Manager Sollenberger stated the Helen R. Payne Daycare Center is located on City-owned property. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the City does not provide childcare for employees; that private employers and community service organizations may be willing to provide the service for City Hall employees. Dr. Stein stated that Michelle Whitten spoke of the availability of small grants for at-home childcare centers as a business opportunity for people in low-income areas to serve the need for childcare; that the grants are from $500 to $1,000. Mayor Dupree stated that numerous possibilities are open for churches working with other institutions in the childcare effort; that low- or middle-income people who must work and have children require reasonable, quality childcare. Ms. Carter stated that studies show that children receiving quality childcare fare better at becoming assets rather than liabilities in the community. Mr. Aimen stated that capital improvements should be given a level of status; that criteria should be established; that dedicated funds should be set aside for capital improvements which meet the criteria; that some Eunds were set aside through the L.O.S.T. extension also called the penny sales tax; that an evaluation process should be established to determine the use of the funds; that the link between the capital improvement programming process and neighborhood planning should be improved; that some communities utilize the financial sustainability model to develop capital improvement programs following a set of explicit criteria; that some capital improvement projects for equipment replacement or in response to growth may be urgent expenditures for which measurement may be inappropriate; however, equity is a provision sometimes introduced into capital improvement programming; that improvement in the property tax base can be used as a measurement; that the type of criteria appropriate for the City could be determined by a task force. Mr. Aimen referred to the section entitled "Capital Improvement Programming Strategies" in the Final Report, Volume II, which includes the objective of increasing the City's capability of obtaining available Federal and State funds by dedicating an employee to grant applications and the monitoring of funding sources; and stated that the dedicated employee could: Initiate searches of funding sources in response to requests from various departments; Help departments reconcile what may be competing Claims on fund-raising resources; and Identify the appropriate sources, the best strategies for successfully garnering grant monies such as outsourcing, in-house preparation, submit applications and monitor processing. City Manager Sollenberger stated that the City has been generous in paying for a variety of neighborhood improvements; therefore, people may not wish to tax themselves additionally for improvements; that the City is more generous, for example, in installing sidewalks than many communities which assess for similar improvements; that the City uses the L.O.S.T. extension also called the penny sales tax for projects such as sidewalks. Mr. Carter stated that the reflection from the public forum is the Police Department does an excellent job; that crime is a common measure of the health of a community; that any degree of criminal activity inhibits economic growth; that crime should be noted as limits must be established once the City has crime; that order maintenance issues are generally noncriminal or very low-order criminal acts involving the disorderly behavior of prostitution, alcohol violations, street-level drug dealing, vandalism, and traffic violations such as speeding; that disorderly behavior is generally not considered serious and occurs day in and day out and affects people's lives almost 24 hours a day; however, disorderly behavior can be serious due to the effect on the neighborhood more than the individual; that disorderly behavior affects entire neighborhoods and erodes the neighborhood's control by driving people out; that the result is people feel a loss of control in their neighborhoods; that developing a program to attack the problem is important; that disorderly behavior has a direct and negative effect upon the quality of life in the community and the City; that data shows a positive correlation between year one of relatively low-order maintenance issues and future increases in more major classifications such as robberies; that low-order maintenance issues fall under several departments. Commissioner Cardamone stated that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way is littered with snack bags, and whiskey and beer bottles and cans late at night; that disorderly behavior could be stopped if arrests were made for each offense. Mr. Carter stated that every person littering cannot be arrested; that the lack of regular pickup of litter contributes to additional litter; that low-order maintenance crimes should be attacked early through education, enforcement, awareness, and maintenance; that the City is good at expending capital funds on beautiful projects but has not done as well at maintenance; that the City cannot be the keeper of everything; that a BOOK 45 Page 17792 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17793 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. public/private partnership instills joint maintenance; that the philosophy of the National Crime Prevention Coalition is that crime prevention is the business of everyone, including the business community and neighborhoods and not just the Police Department; that the philosophy should be adopted by the City; that crime prevention is the business of every City employee and Commissioner; that a true community-oriented government is more realistic if such a philosophy is adopted. Commissioner Cardamone stated that brochures were seen around City Hall last year regarding a program entitled "The Eyes and Ears of the City"; however, this program must not have been implemented. Mr. Carter stated that community-oriented government places the City at the forefront by predicting events rather than reacting to problems, allowing the City to better utilize resources; that resources can be better utilized in the future by making crime prevention a community effort rather than just a Police Department effort; that the Police Department should be very actively involved in multi-disciplinary teams as law entorcement is key to good economic health; that neighborhoods should become involved in the three-tier planning process; that another strategy is the devotion of additional resources to crime prevention tasks within the Police Department; that youth development programs should be supported; that resources cannot be shifted without a critical eye on existing responses; that a fine line must be walked between shifting resources to more prevention-oriented philosophy while still maintaining the critical response; that for example, the City has a high degree of abandoned 911 calls; that the Police Department has analyzed the 911-call data and instituted a policy to reduce the number of times police cars are dispatched in response to such calls which is a better utilization of resources; that detailed early warning signs are in the context of individual neighborhoods; that training on the early warning signs is recommended for neighborhood watch programs and community associations so the early warning signs can be recognized and reported; that an early warning sign could be as simple as a "For Sale" sign indicating people are leaving the area; that the first signs of decline do not show up in data anywhere; that field observations can assist in recognizing early warning signs. Commissioner Merrill stated that data does not always pick up trends. Mr. Carter stated that turning rental housing into home ownership could prove to have a negative side due to the homestead tax exemption which would result in a lowering of tax revenues; that single-family rentals are not necessarily negative in every respect; that owners and managers of multi-housing projects should be made aware of methods to make rental units more appealing and more crime free which can be accomplished through the Landlord Training Program; that the Landlord Training Program could easily be expanded to include single-family rentals in the City; that the educational process has worked well in a number of areas and has resulted in dramatic service reductions in private multi-housing developments; that certain code enforcement efforts require the involvement of law enforcement; that the work of teams has proven effective for specific projects and should be enhanced in the future. Mr. Aimen stated that data collected as part of the three-tier planning process includes housing valuation data; that the data can be used over time to identify and prioritize particular locations or areas for rehabilitation or infill projects; that opportunities are available to develop infill housing; that new investment can be targeted working with the private sector and combining public funds; that housing strategies such as balanced housing and mixed-income housing are worth exploring. Commissioner Cardamone asked the definition of mixed-income housing and if mixed-housing means bringing lower income people into more atiluent neighborhoods and helping with orientation or the reverse. Mr. Aimen stated that a strategy should be developed which makes sense after the opportunities have been reviewed; that the most strategic locations are identified. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the Rosemary District and the 888 Boulevard of the Arts condominiums are good examples. Mr. Aimen stated that an important data set is low-grade properties in the community based on the County Property Appraiser's data base; that low-grade properties are not generating much in taxable value for the community; that a better way to handle the uses on low-grade properties is to preserve the opportunities of the housing supply for the residents and to provide a more appropriate density to drive a project to rehabilitate a neighborhood; that infill housing has accomplished a great deal; that more can be done in the City. Commissioner Merrill stated that most developers are trying to segment the market as a certain market is targeted; that one building might be built to provide rental units for $800 a month and another nearby building to provide rental units of $1200 a month; that different size units could be built within a fairly narrow geographic range; that the concept of low-income next to middle-income or public housing means having people on public assistance next to people of low income, which is mixing a group of one level with the next level upi that the older neighborhoods in the City are mixed-income; that the concept of bringing wealthy people into low-income areas is hard to accomplish. Mr. Aimen stated that developers have successfully developed mixed-income projects; that the idea is not to bring low income in with very low income; that the idea is to bring market rate in BOOK 45 Page 17794 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17795 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. with low income; that very low income may not be a suitable tool as other issues must be considered. Commissioner Merrill stated that an area such as Palmer Ranch mandates mixed-income housing due to required Government approvals; that a certain number of units are set aside at a low price; however, only the first purchaser is generally affected as the resale value will be the unit's worth; that retaining the existing middle-class residents in the City and improving housing is important; that the reasons people do not reinvest in their houses should be addressed; that a possibility is the house cannot be sold for the additional money invested; that the reason for not investing $10,000 for additions or a new kitchen may be an inability to get the money back on resale; that a choice is moving to an area and being in the middle of property values with a good resale value; that the fundamental problem in the City is retaining the mix of income groups currently present; that the experts might shed light on how to retain mixed-income groups in place. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that borderline areas could use low-interest loans as an incentive to upgrade; that one improvement in an area could promote other improvements; that money at a lower interest rate could be a catalyst to encourage housing upgrades. Commissioner Merrill stated that advantage of low-interest loans may be taken merely due to availability; that a loan program could be created where the value of the home dictates availability; that building plans are by necessity more involved due to stricter building codes developed so construction would withstand hurricanes. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the City should have available generic plans for additions eliminating the high cost of individually drawn plans; that an entire street could be targeted for low-interest loans and provided tools for renovations; that the improvement program could snowball. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that targeting an area with low-interest loans is a matter of setting priorities with the use of available funds; that the City's southwest area is affluent; that low-interest loan programs are not required as an incentive as the area has come up on its own; that only the waterfront rim in the northwestern portion of the City fits the affluent image; that the blocks closer to the North Tamiami Trail contain many $60,000 to $80,000 homes which are deteriorating; that hundreds of homes fit into the category; that building plans potentially available from the City could be borrowed rather than purchased; that the Housing and Community Development Department and the Building Department could start an improvement program. Mayor Dupree stated that programs for upgrading homes can be developed; that people live in middle- and high-income houses in low-income and low-socioeconomic areas; that mixed-income houses can be found in low-income neighborhoods; that attention should be focused on incentives for improving homes. Commissioner Cardamone stated that Newtown has many vacant lots where demolitions have occurred; that infill housing would be beneficial on these vacant lots; that Habitat for Humanity or the City's Housing and Community Development Department should take some initiative. Mayor Dupree stated that Habitat for Humanity has been taking positive steps in the area of housing. Commissioner Cardamone stated that Habitat for Humanity is constructing long strings of homes rather than spot housing; that construction on corner lots is a good idea. Ms. Carter referred to the Final Report, Volume II, which includes the following design techniques to protect and revitalize City neighborhoods: Creation of an identity and a sense of pride for fragmented neighborhoods Development of design solutions to mitigate impact of major roads on neighborhoods Expansion of streetscape improvements to side streets Provision of professional planning and design assistance to residents Exploration of amending the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) Development of design improvements for public stormwater facilities Mayor Dupree stated that many low-income working families are waiting to own their own homes; that the City has sponsored down-payment programs in the past; that additional private initiatives should be developed to help low-income working groups with home ownership through low-interest rate loans. Commissioner Cardamone stated that some infill housing is not satisfactory for low- or moderate-income families; that the houses constructed by the Hispanic Alliance in the Park East neighborhood are not as anticipated; that the landscaping is gone; that cars are parked on the front lawns where the buffer was intended; that fences should be placed around the houses to prevent front-yard parking; that the efforts made in the Park East area did not work; that the City has a written agreement with the Hispanic Alliance concerning parking on lawns. BOOK 45 Page 17796 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17797 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. Commissioner Merrill stated that giving assistance to first-time buyers for the purchase of older homes can be a disservice as repairs such as roofs, air conditioners, plumbing are inevitable; that families may not have the funds available for necessary repairs; that infill housing and new housing are preferable for assistance rather than unrehabilitated older homes; that the newer or major revitalized homes have newer roofs, plumbing, and appliances; that the new homeowner could survive for a period of time without the necessity for repairs; that home ownership is at an all-time high nationally at about 60 percent; that the bottom 20 percent of income earners create worries about delinquency rates; that existing housing should not be the target housing for the bottom wage earners. Mayor Dupree stated that a long list exists of people waiting to get into pubic housing and also waiting to get out of public housing indicating a need for II income-sensitive" housing; that I income-sensitive" housing means providing housing for the working poor regardless of the income level, including lower income, middle income, higher low income, and lower middle income; that housing would made available for every income level; that continuing attention should be focused on providing housing for every income level. Dr. Stein referred to the Presentation Report, Volume II, which includes the following education strategies: Develop a school-community partnership strategic plan Decide to act by: Having an exciting vision Forming a City of Sarasota School-Community partnership Advisory Board (CSSCPAB) Committing resources - Involving the right people Visiting a "best practices" community Include the elements of a school- community strategic plan Improve planning and coordination Develop funding proposals with the School Board and the County Dr. Stein referred further to the Presentation Report, Volume II, which defines the elements of a school-community strategic plan as follows: The CSSCPAB should: Develop a shared vision and goals Define target outcomes Design an interagency service delivery prototype agreement Develop technical tools for collaboration Finance school-linked services Dr. Stein stated that the schools cannot deal in isolation with the issues children face today; that a school/meighborhoo, community approach to addressing the City's total wellbeing is required; that the vision of the City could be: Sarasota: The Most Family Friendly City in Florida Dr. Stein continued that Hampton, Virginia, is considered a tamily-friendly city and is a city slightly larger than Sarasota. Ms. Carter stated that Sarasota, unlike Longboat Key, is a central city with a business district which is the hub of a metropolitan area. Dr. Stein stated that Sarasota should work on the concept of becoming a Family-friendly city; that the Economic Development Office of Hampton, Virginia, reported 10 times the number of annual inquiries after making a video tape of achievements resulting from implementation of family-friendly programs; that a number of corporations became interested in locating to Hampton as a place where business could be conducted and employees could work and live; that Hampton was able to develop the workforce and create a higher level of skills in their citizens and children; that Hampton conducts a program called the Healthy Families Partnership Conference, which is concerned with developing a community strategic plan to organize different services including libraries, family centers, etc.; that City Staff might consider attending such a conference; that the video tape is available and could be circulated among the Commissioners for reviewing the types of programs undertaken by Hampton; that Hampton has accomplished improvements on a number of scores measuring the community's health and education achievement levels due to implementation of the family-friendly programs and has become very entrepreneurial by selling the video tapes and hosting conferences promoting the concepts; that the funds derived are placed back in the programs Dr. Stein continued that Sarasota should have an exciting vision, form a City of Sarasota school-community partnership advisory board, commit resources, involve the right people, and begin to look at a strategic plan for implementing a strategy of school- community partnership; that one challenge is developing interagency service agreements; that agencies may have to give up some power and turf and commit to a broader concept. Mayor Dupree asked the tie between creative financing and the school-community strategy. Dr. Stein stated that one example is that Hampton is now marketing itself and is in the private business of tapes, materials and conferences; that local businesses have made contributions to the Hampton program as part of the work force development effort; that existing services have been restructured BOOK 45 Page 17798 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17799 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. in a more focused way without spending additional money; that family centers were created in libraries with readily available resources. Commissioner Merrill stated that the concept of an exciting vision is agreeable but is separate from an education strategy; that the major problem is the schools east of Tamiami Trail are low performing as measured by School Board test-score schools and have also been defined as low socioeconomic schools; that at the November 12, 1998, joint meeting with the School Board of Sarasota County, no commitment to improve school test scores was demonstrated; that property values are diminished by being located in an area with low school test scores; that being in the Alta Vista Elementary School District has a negative impact on property values; that the School Board probably will do nothing about the problem created recently by the redistricting of Alta Vista Elementary School; that in 1995 Alta Vista Elementary School had the seventh highest average test score of the 14 schools in north Sarasota County; that in 1996 Alta Vista Elementary School had the lowest average test score in north Sarasota County; that the dramatic drop in test scores is due to redistricting; that the recent success of Tuttle Elementary School is also attributable to redistricting; that the stigma of being in a low test-score school district must be eliminated to revitalize the neighborhood; that limitations on the schools' capacities prohibit school choice as everyone, for example, could not leave Alta Vista Elementary School and move to the Bay Haven School of Basics Plus; that the low socioeconomic designation of a school is not necessarily reflected in the surrounding neighborhood; that many children in the Alta Vista Elementary School District attend private schools; that teachers are held back by the lower 25 percent of lower achievement level students in a class. Commissioner Cardamone stated that a public school/city advisory board might have examined the ramifications of a transfer of a neighborhood from one district to another from a City perspective; that the ramifications for the neighborhood were not considered; that a conscious decision was made in transferring 250 to 300 very poor students; that a conscious decision is now necessary to focus on bringing up all test scores; that the City had no input on the decision of the School Board as far as the neighborhood was concerned; that families move to areas where schools are pertorming well; that another concept is to purchase property in a neighborhood with a poor school as the property values are less and send the children to a private school; that the response has always been that purchasing a house in a school district with a good performing school is a better approach. Mayor Dupree stated that test scores in schools can be raised if students performing at very low levels are put into special classes; that students whose test scores are pulling down the higher scores in any particular school require attention; that the students who are performing well have parents who visit the school and are involved; that students with low pertormance generally have parents who do not visit or work with school personnel and do not require children to complete homework; that test scores of poor performers can be raised. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the School Board could be made aware of the ramifications of decisions if the City had a public school/city advisory board; that the advisory board could poll neighbors to determine the reasons, for example, that a significant number of neighbors are paying for children to attend a private school; that even some public school teachers send their children to private schools. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the idea of an advisory board may work but only as a political tool to influence decisions which are out of the Commission's hands; that the resource commitment for the various schools indicates more money per pupil is spent in the Lower socioeconomic schools; that the amount per student equals only a few hundred dollars; that a tutoring program costs approximately $100,000; that the Commission can do little more than call attention to the school problem; that resources should be available for children whose test scores must be brought upi that programs must be in place for children with high ability to assure students are challenged to the fullest extent of their ability; that such programs exist in the high schools; however, the existence of such programs in the elementary or middle schools is not known; that the City Commission's dialog is often interpreted by the School Board as an interest in taking middle-class, better educated students out of a school and creating a school especially for those students, which results in a negative reaction; that the School Board is not hearing the message accurately. Commissioner Merrill stated that the School Board indicated a student can get a great education in a low-pertorming school; however, classes are held back by low-pertorming students. Commissioner Cardamone stated that a question is if $2,000 rather than $200 per student would make a difference; that the Commission should complete the discussion with the School Board; that a shared decision regarding City schools and neighborhoods is critical. Mayor Dupree stated that decisions should be shared among public officials, School Board officials, and parents; that students can be taught to pass tests; that attention should be focused on the deficiencies of students within different schools to assist these students in rising to a higher level of pertormance, which will take time, money, and many people working together. Commissioner Cardamone agreed; and stated that representatives of individual City schools have indicated the desire to establish tutorial programs for which funds are not available; that the Commission has discussed in the past providing funds to the BOOK 45 Page 17800 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17801 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. Sarasota County Education Assistance Program (SCEAP) which does not have the equipment, skills, or supplies to accomplish what the public school can accomplish in the neighborhood; that the Commission could help the public schools with funding rather than providing funds for parallel programs. Commissioner Merrill stated that the Commission has a role; that the City has been set back in education recently by losing Pine View School which moved to Osprey, Florida, and is now an asset to that area; that the City lost Sarasota Middle School to the Ashton Road area; that the loss of these two schools combined with the change in Alta Vista Elementary School has created a setback for the City; that one of the primary considerations in buying a home is the neighborhood school; that the School Board's response to the criticisms is that school test scores are not everything; however, school test scores are a good indicator. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that a City representative on the School Board would be beneficial. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the School Board should be approached with issues such as the relocation of Pine View School. Commissioner Merrill stated that the City cannot succeed in the southeast neighborhoods with the current burden caused by school-related issues; that property values in Paver Park suffered approximately a $10,000 decline as a result of being in an area with a low socioeconomic elementary and middle school, as defined by the School Board; that low school test scores should be unacceptable in the City; that a program promoting higher school test scores should be developed; that the School Board is not logical and is a bureaucracy and an impediment; that the School Board at the November 12, 1998, joint meeting did not want to hear debate; that a method must be found to offset the negatives in some neighborhoods to assure the attractiveness to a broad spectrum of the population; that the City must take on the issue of the schools as a priority or the neighborhoods will decline; that the City's schools are all inner-city schools but should not be classified as low-income schools; that inner-city schools are not necessarily all low-income schools. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that upgrading neighborhoods will result in better prepared children in the schools. Commissioner Merrill stated that the School Board changed the districting for Alta Vista Elementary School and removed Sarasota Middle School from the City. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the impact on the neighborhoods was not considered. Commissioner Merrill stated that the School Board was not concerned about the impact on the neighborhoods; that members of the School Board have indicated that the location of low-income children is not a concern as all low-income children in the County must be educated; that members of the School Board believe the problem of a concentration of low-income children is the City's problem. Dr. Stein stated that relocating 250 to 300 students without any preparation is ironic; that a corporation would never consider relocating its workers without significant preparation to assure the move goes smoothly. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the reason for the School Board's decision in relocating the students is a mystery. Dr. Stein stated that aggregate data can hide considerable information; that the School Board's largest expenditure is teachers' salaries. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that a school district study was anticipated as part of the FSS. Dr. Stein stated that achievement scores were reviewed; that internal school expenditures were not reviewed. Mr. Aimen stated that district boundary mapping should be prepared; that the data exists at the school districts; that the performance of the City's schools was provided; however, the geography of the school districts was not provided; that the School Board has the information; that the City does not have the information for monitoring or to report and present in the context of the City's best interest. Commissioner Merrill asked if a summary of priorities is provided? Mr. Aimen stated that screening and prioritizing is an on-going process which will occur during the next couple of months. Commissioner Merrill asked if Staff will be prioritizing the recommendations. City Manager Sollenberger stated yes; that recommendations from the consultants would be helpful. Commissioner Cardamone asked if a summary is available. Ms. Carter stated that the information contained in the Presentation Report, Volume II, is a summary. Mayor Dupree stated that the Commission should receive the FSS and refer it to the Administration to evaluate the recommendations. BOOK 45 Page 17802 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17803 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. City Manager Sollenberger stated that Staff will evaluate the recommendations and return with a plan of action including prioritization of recommendations which can produce the greatest return for the effort invested; that a team approach will be used. Vice Mayor Patterson asked if the consultants have recommendations as to which priorities will produce the greatest return for the least investment and which priorities should be addressed first? Mr. Aimen stated that the recommended strategies will best serve the City; that understanding the Commission's best responses cannot be presumed; that a set of strategies consistent with financial sustainability have been identified; that considerable attention was denoted to the future planning process, which establishes relationships, data collection and analysis to continue the dialog of the past year; that a process should be adopted for examining the resources of the City; that recommendations have been developed for policing and code enforcement which should be implemented. Mayor Dupree stated that alternative strategies, programs and initiatives have been provided for consideration; that the City should follow the process and receive the FSS and refer to Administration for an examination of implementation methods. Ms. Carter stated that the priorities can be clarified; that the listed order emphasizes priority. Commissioner Merrill stated that the consultants rather than Staff should Eurther develop the Commission's ideas on housing; that clarification would be helpful; that specifics concerning the proposed public school/City advisory board should be developed; that a statement that low test scores in low socioeconomic schools are unacceptable should be incorporated; that final approval will not be supported unless the education section is revised; that reference to a family-friendly city as a solution to education is not enough. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the sections on housing and education should be modified prior to receipt of the FSS. Ms. Carter stated that specifics on both housing initiatives and a stronger statement on schools could be developed. Commissioner Cardamone referred to the Presentation Report, Volume II, which indicates that County law enforcement activity is not commensurate with taxes paid by City residents and includes the following recommendations: Establishing of a task force to examine the issue of law enforcement dual taxation including the feasibility of a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) Hosting a joint meeting of the City and County Commissions to discuss findings of the task force Commissioner Cardamone asked if any new approaches are known and recommended to resolve the City/County dual taxation issue? Mr. Brisson stated that no additional information concerning dual taxation is known; that some points are known: 1). the cost to the City for the County Sheriff's Department road patrol is approximately $3.9 million per yeari 2) the earlier lawsuit by the City against the County to resolve the issue was dismissed; 3) future lawsuits have a very low probability of successi therefore, the City's only avenue is a cooperative effort to resolve the issue with the County; that no magic solution exists. Vice Mayor Patterson that the data on which counties have established MSTUS was obtained a few years ago; however, the currentness is not known; and asked if current data has been obtained? Mr. Brisson stated that documentation of specific counties with MSTUS may not have been obtained; that an MSTU can be established, however, resistance will be encountered as taxes are lowered for people within the MSTU and increased for people outside, i.e., the rest of the County. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that an MSTU will not be established as the County has progressed very far down the road of assessments; that in many cases, the assessments on homes are higher than the taxes; that creating another assessment district to replace ad valoreum taxes increases the tax burden to an unsupportable level. Commissioner Cardamone asked if information concerning other municipalities which have won dual taxation litigation is available? Mr. Brisson stated that municipalities have not been successful in winning dual taxation litigation. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, indicated the necessity of County governments to recognize the importance of central cities; that the County Commission should recognize the necessity to maintain the City's financial, neighborhood, and economic health; that the County is not always cognizant of the importance of the City's place in the overall scheme. BOOK 45 Page 17804 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17805 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that responsibility for some services may be returned to the City in the future; that the Sheriff is currently increasing visibility in the City. City Manager Sollenberger stated that the County is progressing in the direction of ameliorating the issue of dual taxation by assuming responsibility for emergency dispatching for the Police Department which relieved the City of a significant financial burden; that some counties provide for financing the Sheriff's road patrol through MSTUS; that the County seriously considered the creation of an MSTU; however, a property tax reduction for a minority and a property tax increase for a majority of the total population would result and was not attractive. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the tax becomes a fee rather than an ad valoreum tax. City Manager Sollenberger stated that is correct. Commissioner Cardamone stated that creating an MSTU is not supported. On motion of Commissioner Cardamone, it was moved to accept the Final Report of the Financial Sustainability Study. Motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Merrill stated that the sections on housing and education in the Financial Sustainability Study should be revised to reflect the Commission's discussion. Vice Mayor Patterson asked if all sections with the exception of housing and education can be accepted? Commissioner Merrill stated yes; that the sections on housing and education should be subject to the Commission's approval. On motion of Commissioner Cardamone and second of Vice Mayor Patterson, it was moved to accept the Final Report of the Financial Sustainability Study subject to approval of additional language in the sections concerning housing and education reflective of the Commission's discussion. Mr. James asked if the intent of the motion is for the Commission to approve revisions in the sections on housing and education. Mayor Dupree stated yes. Dr. Stein stated that clarification of the desired revisions in the education section would be appreciated; that two main points were made: 1. Lower achievement test scores in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods is not acceptable and amplification of the point; and 2. Some consultation should be held with the City or a designated task force concerning the impact on neighborhoods and necessary support services to assist children in a transition if school districts are reallocated. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that adequate opportunities should be available for high pertorming children to learn in City schools. Commissioner Merrill stated that funding should be provided for children with the ability to perform at a high level; that the School Board was asked at the November 12, 1998, joint meeting if accelerated programs were provided; that the response was that accelerated programs are not provided as funding is not available; that Alta Vista Elementary School should be compensated in some form for the lower achievement on test scores which resulted from redistricting. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the suggestion to create an advisory board is intriguing and may be desirable; that an outline of proposed activities for an advisory board would be appreciated. Commissioner Merrill agreed. Dr. Stein stated that any advisory board should initiate a strategic planning process to develop a school/community partnership and should be formed with representatives of different stakeholders in the community including teachers, educators, and government and business representatives to begin the process of developing the partnership. Commissioner Cardamone asked for clarification of activities related to the City's financial sustainability which could be undertaken by an advisory board. Dr. Stein stated that the issue can be addressed in the revision to the education section. Mayor Dupree called for a vote on the motion to accept the Final Report of the Financial Sustainability Study subject to approval of additional language in the sections concerning housing and education in accordance with the Commission's discussion. Motion carried unanimously (4 to 0) : Cardamone, yes; Patterson, yes; Merrill, yes; Dupree, yes. Mayor Dupree stated that Staff and the consultants did an excellent job in completing the Final Report of the Financial Sustainability Study. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the dialogue and the brainstorming has been enjoyed. BOOK 45 Page 17806 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17807 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. 2. CITIZENS I INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS (AGENDA ITEM II) #3 (0729) through #3 (0731) There was no one signed up to speak. 3. REMARKS OF COMMISSIONERS #3 (0736) through (0984) COMMISSIONER CARDAMONE : A. referred to a document entitled "Special Events Criteria St. Armands Circle and Ken Thompson Park"; and stated that the criteria was developed without the involvement of Mote Marine Laboratory, the Pelican Man, or the Sarasota Sailing Squadron; that the status of the criteria is not known; however, the process of developing criteria should be stopped and begun again if Mote Marine Laboratory, the Pelican Man, and the Sailing Squadron were not previously involved. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that the Commission requested that events at Ken Thompson Park be de-emphasized due to traffic issues; that any policy should be presented to the Commission for approval. City Manager Sollenberger stated that the issue had been developed with the St. Armands Residents Association, the St. Armands Merchants Association and the St. Armands Landowners Association; that the three Associations began meeting over a year ago. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that meetings of the three Associations were initiated to address concerns for infrastructure improvements on St. Armands Keyi that the Commission never directed the three associations to address the allocation of Ken Thompson Park, which is a public park and a major community asset; that the use of any major public resource should be a broader project. Commissioner Cardamone stated that one particular item causes concern and cited from the "Special Events Criteria" as follows: The City will not approve a special event permit without prior acquiescence of all three groups. Thus, event sponsors are strongly encouraged to contact each group and submit their proposals well in advance of the event (3 months minimum). Commissioner Cardamone stated that the three referenced associations are: the St. Armands Residents Association, the St. Armands Circle Association, and the St. Armands Landowners Association; that a representative of Mote Marine Laboratory attended one meeting of the three associations and was asked to leave, which is a major concern; that the meeting was public; that no one should have been asked to leave. City Manager Sollenberger asked if Commissioner Cardamone was present when the representative from Mote Marine Laboratory was asked to leave? Commissioner Cardamone stated no. City Manager Sollenberger stated that inquiries concerning the request have been made; however, no definitive answer as to whether the individual was asked to leave has been received. Commissioner Cardamone stated that the criteria should not be implemented until the Commission has discussed the proposal; that limiting the number of events is supported; however, the organizations which hold a number of the events affecting St. Armands Key should be involved in the development of criteria. Vice Mayor Patterson stated that Ken Thompson Park is not located on St. Armands Key; however, the activities at Ken Thompson Park affect St. Armands Key. City Manager Sollenberger stated that major events bring considerable traffic to St. Armands Key; that residents have complained that coincidental events at St. Armands Circle and Ken Thompson Park result in excessive traffic delays. Commissioner Cardamone stated that a major impetus in developing criteria was not to have overlapping events affecting the neighborhoods. Commissioner Merrill stated that the intent of the criteria is generally supported; that the criteria should be reasonable; that the process should be recommenced if people were left out of the development of criteria. Vice Mayor Patterson asked if the criteria have been adopted? City Manager Sollenberger stated no. Mayor Dupree stated that one proposed event is the Ringling Circus; that the Associations asked for a change in the date; however, the Ringling Circus had no flexibility; that the Ringling Circus is asking to hold the event in late February or early March 1999 and would not consider a change to January or April 1999. BOOK 45 Page 17808 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. BOOK 45 Page 17809 11/13/98 1:00 P.M. 4. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM III) #3 (0984) There being no further business, Mayor Dupree adjourned the special meeting of November 13, 1998, at 4:35 p.m. nm Blphur JEROME DUPREE, MAYOR - ATTEST: I h E Ralnoon BILLY, EPOBINSON, CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK