Canal Dredging and Cost/Tax Allocation
To: Longboat Key Town Commissioners
We were recently presented the Longboat Key canal dredging plans. We have a few comments below for your consideration:
-Although the presentation charts show six benefits, we think there is really only one – “access for recreational boater” by the canal front parcels. The next 5 stated benefits seem spurious and not relevant. Most residents think that the canal front people will benefit the most; the bay front people a little; and the non water front people not at all. Therefore, shouldn’t the cost be allocated proportionally to those who benefit?
– During the presentation it was mentioned that they wanted to keep the cost allocation simple. But wouldn’t being more fair, though more complex, be better? When allocating the undergrounding cost a few years ago the benefits were analyzed in a lot of detail – e.g. we measured the distance to the nearest telephone pole to get a .5 EBU. Then the costs were allocated, parcel by parcel, by the different EBU benefits (reliability, safety, aesthetics) received. With this canal dredging plan the benefits have not been split out in any detail – just a simple 80/20 applied.
-Using a shared driveway maintenance analogy (e.g. asphalt paving) the owner with the longest driveway portion usually pays the largest proportion of costs. Using this proportional use approach for canal dredging the owner at the end of a canal benefits the most (and probably where most of the silting occurs) and should pay a proportionally larger part of the cost and tax. Has it been found that the parcels at the mouth of canals have little to no silting and therefore no, or less, benefit?
-For the 80/20 beach renourishment split, it was felt that bay side folks still benefited from the beach renourishment in the 80/20 proportional split. Bay side folks can still go to and enjoy the gulf beaches. Conversely with this canal dredging program, non water front owners do not benefit at all with the canal dredging. The presentation noted “mimics 80/20 beach renourishment funding structure”. We think we can get closer to who actually benefits percentage wise, rather than mimicking an entirely different situation. Where is the data that shows non water front homes will be more “appealing” with canal dredging as noted on chart 8? Though some might say the tax is only about $30 per year – it is the principle that is the point here.
-Doesn’t non-ad valorem have to show that the benefits are equal? Is the town stating that bay front owners will benefit the same as canal front? A 100% allocation to canal front parcels, in our opinion, seems to be more fair. The presentation stated “reinforced appeal for real estate…”. We assume this means increased real estate values and therefore benefit. Then why non-ad valorem when a higher appraised parcel benefits so much more than a lower appraised parcel? For example, if a $2 million parcel improved their value with canal dredging by 1 percent, the owner’s net worth increases by $20,000; while the $1 million parcel only improves their net worth by $10,000. This doesn’t seem fair that one’s non-ad valorem taxes would be exactly the same. Thus, ad valorem (which is also tax deductible) would be more fair than non-ad valorem.
Thanks for considering this input, and we appreciate all the work you do on our behalf.
Carla & Pete Rowan
Longboat Key
FEMA Project review
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
I’m traveling but will review.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
FEMA Project review
To: George Reenstra
On the face that appears to be great news thanks Isaac and a well done recap of all the balances on our claims.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
FEMA Project review
To: George Reenstra and Commissioner Coffin
Thank you for the discussion today. As one follow-up, below is a list of claims by category that the Town of Longboat Key has submitted to FEMA. The FEMA rep. for our Beach claim (Category G below) reached out as recently as today to schedule a site visit for Friday May 8th to help move our claim forward, so that is a good sign. The Beach claim is our biggest one at around $17 million. FYI – Overall, the Town’s FEMA claims total: $22,103,053.32
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Hurricane Season
To: Longboat Key Commission
With hurricane season approaching, the Clerk’s Office has updated the list of local hotel options for your reference. Commissioners are responsible for making their own arrangements at the hotel that best meets their needs. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Steph or me directly. We’re hopeful that these accommodations won’t be needed.
Trish Shinkle
Town Clerk
Town of Longboat Key
Hurricane Season
To: Longboat Key Town Clerk Trish Shinkle
Thank you very helpful.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Mooring boats
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Sarah Karon
Last year, the Florida legislature amended FS 327.60 to allow municipalities to limit anchoring for more than 30 days. This change was lead by Sylvester Stallone who was tired of the all the boats permanently anchored in front of his Palm Beach house!
A number of junky live-aboard boats are always anchored in the bay near the Linley dock. Some are just abandoned. As these boats never move, they do not use holding tanks, and thus pump raw sewage into our waters. Also, because they are poorly anchored, these derelict boats often wash up on our shores or sandbars after a storm, requiring many months and lots of taxpayer money for the state to remove them.
The change to FS 327.60 would allow the Longboat to adopt an ordinance to fine and remove these boats after 30 days. This would both protect our water quality and prevent these boats washing up on our shores. Would you be interested in exploring this idea with the LBK Commission?
James G. Haft
Longboat Key
St. Regis sign
To: Jeff Hamilton
The developer of the St. Regis withdrew his application Friday night from the Town’s Monday agenda regarding his sign. I have asked for the sign to be promptly removed. Will know more on Monday.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
St. Regis sign
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Thank you for your support. I’m glad that you as a commissioner support the people that live here. Keep up the good work! Best regards.
Jeff Hamilton
Longboat Key
St. Regis sign
To: Jeff Hamilton
Jeff – Thank you so much.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sent from my iPhone
Commissioner’s Corner
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
With the last minute request to film a Commissioner’s Corner next week, the potential topic that immediately came to mind was “Understanding Ad Valorem Taxes.” The purpose of this email is to gauge whether this sounds like a topic that will interest people and, if so, thoughts on who to have as a guest (or guests).
My concept is a qualitative — not quantitative — discussion. (I’ve attached notes I started developing in March to give a sense of what I mean by that.) That means avoiding a numbers-focused conversation that Kelly would likely be comfortable with. Instead, I wondered about inviting a member of staff or a member of the public to ask questions that could be answered within this framework. (Maybe even someone on Jan Thornburg’s team.) Ideally, I wouldn’t be the only person providing information (although I think I can handle it). Jennifer?
Does this sound useful to the public? Feasible to assemble in the requested timeframe?
Could we post this internally ? It is very part time and could be really interesting. It is for the ManaSota League of Cities of which I am a member.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
Job posting
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Yes – it only posted yesterday because I have been underwater with moving back to my house!
I also have my assistant tasked with figuring out the clerk association job posting link. Hopefully he will accomplish that today.
Lisa Moore
Commissioner
City of Bradenton
Job posting
To: Bradenton City Commissioner Lisa Moore
Could you send me the Link to the posted job please so I can share it? I tried to find it on FLC website and had no success.
Thanks,
Jen Ahearn-Koch
Commissioner
City of Sarasota
Job posting
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, Bradenton Commissioner Lisa Moore
Please see Trish’s note and add this.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Job posting
To: Bradenton City Commissioner Lisa Moore, Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
I don’t want to interfere with your process, but I noticed under the heading “Meetings Management” that attending the meeting and writing minutes were not included in the job description. I recall that Rachel indicated she wasn’t proficient in that area, and it should probably be included.
Meetings Management: Schedule bi-monthly meetings, prepare agendas and materials, arrange presenters, ensure quorum, attend Board meetings, and prepare meeting minutes.
The link to post on the FLC site is: https://flcityjobs.com/.
Trish Shinkle
Town Clerk
Town of Longboat Key
Job posting
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Please see attached revised job listing. Please let me know your thoughts. If anyone has a direct contact at the League that I can ask about posting with them and Indeed, that would be great!
Lisa Moore
Commissioner
City of Bradenton
FEMA Project review
To: Longboat Key Finance Director Susan Smith
The Town of Longboat has 14 projects pending review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Attached is a listing by category with the current status and the federal cost share for both Hurricane Helene and Milton.
Category A Debris Removal
Pending PDMG Application Review
Total $4,132,870.22
Category B Emergency Protective Measures
Pending PDMG Application Review
Total $738,900.77
Category C Roads And Bridges (Streetlights)
Pending PDMG Application Review
Total $114,556.63
Category E Building Equipment
Pending Applicant Development
Total $37,212.75
Category F Utilities
Pending FEMA 406 HMP Completion
Pending EHP Review
Total $25,378.45
Category G Parks and Recreation
Pending FEMA 406 HMP Completion
Pending EHP Review
Total $17,028,756.55
Total Federal Cost Share pending reimbursement
$22,103,053.32
Ronica Jackson
Accounting Manager
Town of Longboat Key
