Good afternoon and welcome to the commission workshop for June 2nd, 2026. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Now, if we could please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, we have one item tonight and we'd like to start with a discussion
from our staff uh regarding Treasure Bay. >> Gary, >> good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. It's a pleasure to be before you today to talk about a project that I think is near and dear to everybody's heart. It's to see some
progress uh uh move forward out at Treasure Bay. The Living Shoreline project has has recently wrapped up and uh we we need to look at uh what we can do out there as far as uh improving the rest of the site. I've got a a little
presentation here. I just want to start off with saying that, you know, this this workshop is just part of a process. It's been going on for maybe a few years. Um, I'm I'm I'm I'm new to new to the island and uh but
I' I've heard a lot of uh citizen concerns, complaints, suggestions from you also and and I've tried to kind of, you know, look at all that, but the city uh the the commission asked the city manager to come up with some alternatives just for to start the
discussion. And I've got three that I'm going to go over today. But again, this isn't necessarily the end all or anything. there maybe, you know, there will obviously be much more discussion after this, but this will be hopefully we'll get it get some momentum going. Um, also I just wanted to to mention
that we do recognize that the the property we were fortunate to get some grants that have helped to pay for the living shoreline project um both in terms of the seaw wall and also uh some amenities like the walk and the kayak launch. they have conditions that, you
know, we need to make sure we're sensitive to that and also any kind of any kind of zoning issues, we need to make sure that we meet our our uh requirements. So today, um I'm going to go ahead and talk to you about two primary things.
What one is the current conditions and then what sort of options that we could look at. Um again, this is not all-encompassing. what I present today may be you may say we like some of this and some of that we want to mix and match we want to do you
know it does it's a flexible plan but this is just a starting point point so again current conditions and then three u options to consider okay you're looking at the current conditions unfortunately this is not actually current because it's it's the
latest aerial I was able to find uh unfortunately it's about halfway through the living shoreline project but you can you can see sort of the the short the stone along the north side of the site there um and in the water already and a lot of the uh the trail has been
installed. But but basically um what we have out there now is is the existing clubhouse has been refurbished. Um the tennis courts are back in operation. We have a multi-purpose court that's used for various purposes. And uh
we have approximately 79 parking spaces and room for our bus to park out there. So this is sort of the situation we have as far as amenities. We also have a kayak a playground, a small playground there. We have a kayak launch. Um some
exercise equipment is located around the site. And uh we have the perimeter trail walkway that is actually pretty nice if you had had a chance to walk around. and it's and it's beautiful right there along the water. So, it's it's it's in place. So, those are the current
conditions. But, as far as options, what what after talking with Charlie about this a little bit, we thought let's go with like kind of a low, medium, and high in terms of expense. Um, so you can kind of see the differences and what you get. Um, so I'm going to talk about
um just some some site enhancements to the site as I just presented minimal approach. the golf course project and then a new concept in which we may start from scratch and look at the property. So, um
as far as site enhancements go, this this this basically looks at as a passive park. Um grading off a lot of the the hills and dales that are out there right now, getting a little flatter, uh a lot of
green space, open. Um we'll add landscaping. This is sort of minimal, but we could put a lot more landscaping in there, but it's just to kind of clean up the site because it is kind of a mess right now. Um the the interior, we didn't spend a lot of money on
renovations there. Um after the living shoreline project, it was we did dredge the pond out. We spread material, but there's uh you know, it was mainly seated and um we're kind of waiting for the next stage as far as decisions to before we spend any more money out
there. So, so again, this is sort of a a um a minimal approach. We fill in one of the ponds to give us a little bit more space out there and and again, grading siding, another sidewalk to kind of get us from the the center. You you can
traverse the whole site, the perimeter, and then cut through the center. But fairly simple approach. Um the second approach is the golf course. This is the uh the 9-hole par three golf course. uh we would put in additional landscaping.
We've got an exist existing clubhouse. We could see how that would work out. It had functioned in the past uh in that regard to serve the golf course. And also uh we rebuilt the bathrooms that are uh the restrooms that are currently out at the site. So this is this is a uh
um uh the the par three uh golf course. You know, one thing that I I was uh interested in, I I found out recently that it actually was a an 18hole golf course built in the early 60s and um it
was privately owned until 1976 at which time the city took it over and and they converted it to a 9-hole course. So that's sort of it's been you know about 50 years ago is when the city started uh the uh the golf course operations but it actually was was built
uh in the in the early 60s. Now this this was just the the option of if if someone had given the city 18 acres of property, what would you do? How would you envision using this this land? And you
know, you got to realize that there's there's almost half a mile of of of waterfront there. It's just a tremendous piece of property. So, um, I I basically I I said, "Well, well, let's just it's
it's it's geared for recreation. That's the zoning. It's what all the uh grants are are you directing us towards. It has to stay in that regard." So looking at a recreation complex to to serve the the the largest amount
of people I looked at three elements. First is recreation and that would be space for families for leisure activities but still getting out in the open. Um so the second component would be exercise and that is to promote healthy lifestyles you know you know
courts and things of that nature and and the third is is community an area for social engagement and uh possibly local events and things that could happen out of the property. So um
so this is this is sort of a a a scheme that that was was developed. I've had a lot of input with from the departments, city departments. Some of you may have mentioned some things that that I've incorporated in here, but I'm going to go ahead and walk you through the uh uh
the site and then we can go ahead and get into, you know, questions and things. So, I'm going to start with the recreation element. And this is on the west side of the the property and basically it's a it's a 36hole putt golf course. Um, it's got a a clubhouse uh
with a grill and a bar and we'd have ice cream there possibly uh right there by the playground. So, we'd have a playground. It'd all be part of this complex. Um, it also service the kayak paddle board docks if we had a vendor there to help with, you know, maybe renting those out or something like
that. And also the addition of 28 boat slips to allow dayboers to pull up and visit the park. Um the reconfigured parking lot would allow us to have 125 parking spaces and um
along the the road there I've got 10 golf cart parking spaces. So we'd have some some accommodations for that. And and another thing is we've talked internally about having periodic visits some sort of environmental um outreach where we'd have um mobile marine
aquarium mobile marine lab. Those are both penllis county organizations that come out. we could have them come out once or twice a month, uh, have, you know, families, kids to to give them a little bit of an idea of of of our environment, some of the visitors, expose them to some of the things that
are going on and and Tampa Bay Watch also participates in this sort of thing. So, so we'd like to see some of those sort of activities in this this element of the park. Um, the what is putt golf? Well, you know, when I first started
working here in in last April, um there was a talk about popstroke and a Rotary or someone wanted to try and do something like that out there. And I'll have to admit, I was skeptical. It it but but several of us had an opportunity to drive up to Wesley Chapel and look at
the facility up there. And I tell you, I was impressed. I I'm I'm uh um it it it really is is a tremendous facility. Um, and it it allows a lot of people, a lot of different skill levels to play, different ages to play. Um, and and also
it it they do have team setups. You can have leagues. Um, but the nice thing is that the you know the turf it just it's the the the maintenance manager that we spoke with told us that they spent an hour or so with a blower just blowing off the uh the turf and getting it ready
for the next day. So, um, it it this is sort of I've got some pictures here to show sort of the setup and we could possibly have some sort of a of a clubhouse, something like that, open air with some garage doors, let the air come through, but if the inclement weather, we can close the the doors. You've seen
those sorts of things around the Bay Area. Um the the the second part of the pro the the project would be the exercise component and this is this is centrally located on the site and we've got
basically six hard true courts then two hard surface courts for tennis, six pickle ball courts. Um there's an office restroom facility to serve the courts and and and administer that. Um, in the
little the reddish kind of circle there is a is a a spray park for the kids to go ahead and visit. Um, we've got uh uh all the way to the right that rectangle. That's a what multi-purpose field. It would be a it would be a grass, but it
would be graded to be it'd be flat and uh kids could kick a soccer ball. You could go out there throw a football around or we could have you know people could have Pilates classes or yoga classes or that sort of thing. So, uh, trying to, you know, get get maximum use of this the property out out here. Um,
there's also three beach volleyball courts there just south of the parking at the radius there. And, uh, and then we'd have, um, the the lot adds an extra 88 parking spaces and 20 more golf cart parking spaces. This allows people to
get into the heart of the pro project. If you're playing tennis, you'd come over in this area, one of the courts and things or or visiting the park to to the uh to the east also. Um and then there's a small maintenance facility next to the the beach volleyball courts that could
be used that the parks and wreck would use to to maintain the the property. Um the the third element is the recreation of the recreation complex is the uh community area and and it's um it's pretty much in the northeast uh of the
of the site and it's as you can see here it's it's sort of the wide open area of the property and uh it would open space. It could be used for various community uh gatherings, receptions. People could use it. they could, you know, maybe reserve the space and and have a tent
installed out there for a wedding reception or some kind of entertainment that that sort of thing. Um, there's plenty of walkways and access throughout the park. There's an additional restroom here. Each of the three phases of the or areas of this include a restroom facility of some sort that's open to the
public. So that you know we we you know you're out there you can you you you can uh uh use the restrooms there close by. Um now this the area you can see this sort of like a a semicircle.
It sets up very well for possible use of temp uh special events. Um in this case there's a we bring in a temporary stage and those little dots there all represent a person or so. There's about 1500 people could sit on the grass and watch a a show out there on the water.
You're looking out at the water there. Um there along the perimeter of the the semicircle there, the small colorful colored squares or or vendor tents that you sort of like this type you see along the market here on on Fridays. Um the
two larger tents would be be brought in for a special event to house uh some, you know, picnic benches and and seating for food service. uh uh if you know you had some sort of uh you know grills and hamburgers and things like that and and the restrooms right there to help you
know serve it. Um you know the the use of this sort of thing it could be it it could be limited to three four times a year. It would be at the city's discretion and also the hours of operation would be set to make sure we minimize any impacts to to the
neighboring communities. Um, so, so, so with all that said, you it's it's fairly it's fairly a large space. It can be it can accommodate quite a bit. But after the uh after the event, everything goes, you know, the the tents are removed, the
stage and everything is is gone and it goes back to an open space and you got this passive park again to uh uh, you know, for the enjoyment of of of folks who don't want to play sports or to do those sorts of things. they just want to, you know, take a walk by the water. So, so, um, so that that sort of is the
the community event part of it. Now, one thing you notice I moved the tennis courts in this configuration. Now, the main reason for that is it allows us to have the 24 foot wide driveway, which we really don't have at this point, and and it gets it gets traffic into uh parking
and people into the heart of the property. Right now, the only way to you basically park up there by the old clubhouse and you have to hoof it back there. The but the main thing, and this is what I've said from day one with with staff internally, is that is that it it
it gives us improved access for our firefighters or EFT or anybody to get back in here because if we have an activity going on in in the park, we need to be able to, you know, take care of those folks. whether it's it's a Sunday morning and someone has a heart attack out there or something like that. This allows us to get into the park
quickly and and service uh the the community if there is an emergency if it arises. So that that's that's that's a pretty important thing. Right now it's it's it's a narrow road along the uh the villages. Um if if if if there's a truck parked there and it's it breaks down or
stop, you can't get to the back really very very easily. Um so so this this this allows better circulation for the site. Um, I've kind of run through a lot of things fairly quickly, but um, I'm just going to go to summarize. We have the
three different versions. It's more the just just enhancing the site with with more landscaping, sod grading. The the the um the second alternate is the is the uh golf course and then the third alternate is more of a recreation
complex um, at the site. And so, you know, with that, I've gone over a lot, but I'm happy to discuss any of them in further detail or answer any questions that you might have. Any questions? >> I think we're going to have to go to public comment.
>> Okay, we can uh we'll move on into public comment. Um we're going to cut it back to two minutes. Margaret Row. >> Okay. Well, sir, >> please uh come to the podium. There
actually is a speaker there at the podium. So, >> thank you. Um I've lived in building looking at the pond for 11 years. I count the rosette spoon bills. I watch the birds that come through. What does the Ottabbon Society think of us filling
in a pond? And to think about the noise sound. I've been to those concerts up in Rhode Island and the noise across the the water is so amplified. Think about what that does to that whole
area. All of the people that live on the water there that come for peace. I think that said enough. >> Thank you, Margaret. Mark Hoey. >> Uh, good evening. Uh, Mark Hoey,
District 3. Just a couple of more current issues. I know there's much more to be done, but I think fundamentally there's a couple things we need to keep in mind from my standpoint. Uh, one of them I believe whatever direction we end up going needs to be to the best of our
planning ability self-supporting. This does not need to become a government subsidized playground. I think and I'm not saying that results in charging people or whatever. It just part of what we should be doing to support recreation but not creating a a
drain on the community that goes on and on, especially since we don't know about usage at this point in time. And then uh really more currently because now I uh Gary I guess we have reopened this to the public. I know there hasn't been any grand formal uh
event to do that but let's say we have what has been the issue and we brought it up some time ago about uh the insurance liability of of the walkways as they currently are you know from from potential for people that uh may uh take
a tumble down those hillsides or certainly something to consider going forward is if we restore golf then that What how does that change that dynamic? And again, the city should not necessarily walk wideeyed into a a
situation that's going to be a huge liability to the uh community going forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mark. Skip North. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Wall-E Viddle
Vidal. Good evening everyone. Um, Wall-E and Marie Vidal, we live in Sunset Beach, longtime residents of Treasure Island. We've been here about 28 years. And most of those years, we have spent a lot of time on the tennis courts. We're not
golfers, but really appreciate Treasure Bay. And um my concern is you don't have a constituency for all these things that are being put out there except for the golf and the tennis. I played tennis this morning. Uh
we had a few people out there for the clinic. I've been out there several times since the wall walkway was completed. I don't see anybody there. Okay. Um it's beautiful, but people come here to walk on the beaches.
um the constituents, the people who live here mostly and a few visitors that come, they seek out Treasure Bay because it's a great place to play tennis, make a lot of good friendships. And then you also had the constituency for the golf, same thing. So, I would like to see the
place restored and improved, perhaps the uh clubhouse, maybe some aspect of the golf course. Uh, but I think we need to walk slowly moving into this other wish list of things which so far have no constituency. If you look across at the
the Treasure Island Club, it's got a bunch of docks. Nobody's there. Okay, there's a lot of empty stuff going on. We need to stick with what we know, move slowly, and do it in in modules if we do it. A master plan of taking everything
away and starting from scratch, I think, would be a mistake. So, thank you for your time. Look forward to seeing what goes on next. Thank you. >> Thank you, Skip. Or I'm sorry, Wall-E. Ginger Ewing. Hey, I'm Ginger Euing. I live in Paris
Island Towers and I'm the one that posts a lot of the pictures of the shoreline. Beautiful. I love it. I do it from the boat so I get a different view. Um, I walked the walkway today all the way around. It's absolutely gorgeous. Um, to this lady's concern, the osprey nest up
there, the birds, all the wildlife was beautiful. I don't think closing the pond would be a great idea, but that's obviously not up to me. But I'm a golfer and I know several of y'all probably got my emails going, "Oh, not her again."
Right. Um, but the idea of either of the golf, either the um part three golf course would be great. We neighbors and all of us played on it several times till it left and we keep looking at each other saying, "Hey, we get the golf course back." Um, we voted because we're
asked a couple of times to vote if we wanted the golf course back. And pretty much in our building there's 150 units. So, we know each other. So, we're like, "Hey, did you get a chance to vote your opinion um about the golf course?" Not mine. That's just one. And we heard that it was 85% yes. We're like, "Yay, golf
course come back. Golf course come back." and we're all excited and then we get other messages saying they're not sure. Everybody's sure but one person. We might get it, might not. So, I just want to give you my opinion. I love the golf idea whether it's plan A or B with
the golf. Um I like the part three. Um I'm not into the loud noise. You know, when next door at the yach club was open years ago, they had music out there and we heard it, you know, when we're trying to go to sleep at night. And so I'm really not into the thing on the corner
with the loud music because you say it could be three times a year, but it could be more. Just my opinion. And most of all, thank y'all for what you do. Big progress on the island. I see it every day, all day, and I love it. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Ginger. Ronan Gainor. Good evening. Um, I'm a a proud resident of Treasure Island. Um, it's a great place to live. Uh great beaches, uh plenty of good restaurants, and of
course a firstass um tennis facility, which compare, in my view, compares favorably to many of the private tennis clubs around. Um,
we bought our condo back in 1980 and we've been residents here since 2004 and have enjoyed the tennis facilities ever since. the US uh tennis association's
keen interest in the tennis facility uh backed up with a substantial grant uh is a great uh vote of confidence in the facil in the facility
to destroy a number of tennis courts um and just to make a roadway uh makes no sense. Since a roadway already exists, the roadway was sufficient to
accommodate heavy trucks carrying loads of rocks to make for the new uh coastal whatever you call it. Um and uh many trucks were going up and down all day. We saw them when I was
playing tennis. Um, in my view, the city of Treasure Island and you guys should be very proud of the tennis facility and should promote it very strongly. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Ronin. >> Barbara, >> thank you. >> My name is Barbara Mun. live at the village of Paradise Island and I am looking at a sand pit um filled with weeds and it's been like that for over two years. So I hope whatever gets
decided gets decided quickly and if it's not decided quickly something gets done with the property because it's affecting my property value. Um so in the past we've attended a lot of workshops and they weren't a
presentation by you guys. It was an involvement other than two minutes at a time of what we had to say. And the golf course was discussed for from 2017 until 2024.
So this medium of 2 minutes is absolutely ridiculous. Um so my biggest question is has the city attorney reviewed all the stipulations on the grants? because um personally I
believe filling in one of the water holes which is actually storm water was just uh revitalized during this project. So I don't think we're really able to and that's just layman's you know comment. Um and the other thing is
putting miniature golf on the property. I don't know if that's considered a commercial venture. I don't know if we're allowed to do that either. Um, so I'm not really a big proponent of that. Um, the other thing I have a question on
is about an open-ended budget. Um, from looking at the 2024 quotes for just revitalizing the park, it was about $870,000. Doing the golf course was 1.28. I'm sure they've both gone up since
then. But this thing that you're talking about knocking everything down, I'm looking at, you know, and I'm just ballparking way on the high side,5 to$10 million. So, I don't know where this money is coming from to put all of these amenities in while it's not in use, not
making any money, not doing anything. Um, I think the the discussion on the golf course should be a dead issue. I'm sorry, this is this is not correct. um that it's two minutes. Can I speak longer, please?
>> Uh no, we need to move on. >> Well, it's a dead horse. It was already voted on and everybody agreed to a golf course. >> Thank you, Barbara Todd Hudson. >> Yeah. Hi, uh Todd Hudson, native Floridaidian, Penelis County for 30
years. My wife and I been on Treasure Island for 15 now. And one of the things we looked at when we moved over here is the tennis. And I just can't imagine living anywhere in Florida with not having local tennis courts. Um, and
the Philly's been uh I mean it's it's so nice now. I mean the USA and their grants and y'all's work, Phil's work has made it like uh it's almost perfect and to knock it down. uh and give us something similar. Again,
just doesn't seem like a good use of our money and our time. I mean, how long would it be out of business? A couple years at least. Um and then the road, I mean, there is a road there. I saw rock trucks and heavy equipment going past her every time I
played tennis. Seems like we can make something work besides doing that. That was it. Thank you. Thank you, Todd. Anita Fenelli. Hi again. It seems every time Treasure
Bay is on the uh docket, the room is filled. Um so, we can all tell how much of an emotionally charged issue this is. Yes, I'm a golfer and I'm in the golf league, but I'm not standing in front of you right now as a golfer. Standing in front of you is the
president of the board of directors for my phase of the village of Paradise Island. And I have a couple of questions. Um really about alternative three. Uh you are proposing to put in 213
new parking places for just cars. And I'm not um talking about golf carts at this point. How much of our flagship waterfront recreational facility will you be paving over for these parking spaces?
How is 213 parking places with 1,500 people going to work? Where and how are we going to take this facility in a 100% rec um residential community which right now is having
about 50 new gigantic homes built. What is that going to do to all of our property values? Recreation is where it's at. I would not call alternative three recreation. Thank you. >> Thank you, Anita.
Jim Mitchell. Hello. I'm so glad to meet you. I'm Jim Mitchell. Paradise Island Towers. We have a tremendous vested interest in what happens here. I want to thank you for all your hard work, for your alternatives
uh and for bringing back the uh um the activity center there, the pro shop, whatever you want to call it. That was a vibrant place. It had commerce. We could eat lunch over there. It added value for us. Had a nice book place there. I'm a
golfer. That place was a perfect place as far as we're concerned. We'd like to have it back just pretty much the way that it was and really enhance uh the um the pro shop itself and uh get ready because as we're having to put in flood
barriers, it's going to happen again. So, you need to put in flood barriers like we're doing and get ready for the next flood and um prepare yourself. That alternative three cannot be afforded from an insurance standpoint. Okay.
Insurance professional. Thank you, Jim. >> Phil Gerardi. >> Hi, guys. >> Um, you know me, I know most of you. Um, really, I just want to say, um, I I'm actually excited that we're talking about this. I've been there a very long
time. Um, and I actually like having ideas floated out there. Um, I know, uh, for me, I'm going to advocate for the tennis. I'm going to try to advocate for as much tennis as we have now. If it was up to me, we'd have more. We have a good
facility. We went through um the process when I first got there on having six uh six clay courts, two hard courts, and it was really quick to see that with leagues that need five courts and having the residents in there and having
program, we need a little bit more. So, you know, um I I'm really, like I said, an advocate for my players, for the residents that are here. I've been there forever. I love that property. I would like to see whatever is done done well.
We've gone through a number of of issues out there before. One being when the bridge was closed for 10 months and everybody had to come around. Um, but we had a number of of residents and as soon as it opened back up, the place came
back in Ian, which was 2022. Um, and we had a water spout that hit courts 9 and 10, seven and eight and whatever. Um, you know, that that hit us for a spell, too. So, numbers did drop, but when it came back and um and I can show you those numbers, all good. So, we've been
very resilient in the past as far as a tennis community. um I'll fight for them, you know, until I retire. And and I'm trying to set Treasure Bay up as far as tennis-wise for the next 20 years. But we've had administrations here before that have neglected that
facility, not only for the tennis, but for the golf. I'm just going to say it. And that might be why things suffered for a while. Um I'll just kind of leave it with this. Um any I know some of you are newer to the city. If you ever want to go through numbers or talk about the
facility, please contact me. >> Thank you, Phil. Mark Nazworthy. Hey folks, thank you very much for what you do. Mark Nazworthy here. My wife Irene is right back there. We live right next door to Treasure Bay at um the
villages of Paradise Island. I've been playing golf for 56 years, tennis for 12. We're avid tennis players now and part-time golfers. I grew up here in St. Petersburg. Always wished that I could live on Treasure Island.
Finally came here uh 14 years ago and u we're not going to leave. So, uh, along the way, my wife and I learned to play tennis here at Treasure Bay with Phil as
our pro. My son, um, grew up in youth tennis at Treasure Bay. Um, he's a great player now. He's 23. He's in the military. I did 25 years in the military. Now, my son's following in my footsteps, but he's playing golf and
playing tennis. And those two things are kind of near and dear to our hearts. Um the six on the alternative three. Now I used to be a um uh general contractor and builder and whatnot. Um and know
quite a bit about mixeduse development. Um the six and two uh combination of courts in the option three don't work for any massing or any business uh buildup for
the city itself. And for a tennis facility, you're just going to have casual use. And I've done about 10 um uh paid for about 10 studies that show that. And there are quite a few people who have also paid for stuff like that
here that we can give to you. Um the the the net rework of option three, sorry, gives you u uh a big wide boulevard to send those
EMS trucks up and down, but it's been working for 75 years. I don't know why you have to change it now. >> Thank you, Mark. Hazel Barklay. >> Hello, my name is Hazel Barklay. I live out at Key Capri. I'm a proponent of
alternate 2. Um, specifically the tennis. Uh, I grew up playing tennis in Treasure Island essentially. Kzzik Christian used to um play on the high school team there. We come out and do all of our matches out here. And so now I'm actually on several leagues that play out here. Uh, the USA has put over
280,000, gave us a grant. We're using it to tear it down. It just would be sad. I mean, it'd be almost a smack in the USA's face to um use it and rebuild it after the hurricane. It's been amazing courts after it's been rebuilt. It took
some time to do. I also love the golf um component of it, too. Uh right now to do a par three, you have to go all the way to Tim Twin Brooks on 22nd Avenue. My husband is a a teaching professional um a golf professional and so we've always been a tennis and golfing family. I have
concerns about alternate three. We talk about boats coming in and parking there. Boats go to the sandbar. I mean, people go to the water. If they're on a boat, they're not going to go to a land park. So, that was a sort of an interesting thought there, but I don't see where
where people would do that. I see them hundreds of people out at the sandbar a lot. But, I just want to conclude that I'm really really a proponent of keeping the tennis. Um, it's been a great facility. I've been really enjoying it. I feel it brings a lot of fitness. we um
tore down the part the one tennis courts close to my house uh over at Rosley Park. So, I think it's important that the the community thinks about the holistic of what are you offering all of Treasure Island if you take it away in one place. Don't try to redo what you're
already doing. Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Hazen. Sharon Phillips. Sharon Phillips there. I um I live at the club and I watch the club close down, the tennis
closed down and um I just love Treasure Bay tennis and golf and um I don't think we should repair what we've already done so far. I think we should enhance it, not alternative
three. Um I just think that we should keep the tennis and um Thank you everyone. >> Thank you very much Sharon Connie Yilmar or Yilm. >> Hi. Um I just want to start by I saying
that I welcome the opportunity to develop more activities around Treasure Island and Treasure Bay and I want to thank you all for giving consideration and for taking the time to hear our thoughts this afternoon. Um, like many people who have spoken here today, I just want to reiterate that tennis is at
the heart of this facility. Part of the reason we chose to, you know, live in Treasure Island a few years ago is because of that facility. And it definitely, you know, after playing there a bit and becoming part of the community, it was a big factor in
choosing to stay after Helen and and be, you know, continue to be part of it. Even with the population down and tourism down, tennis is drawing large numbers to the facility. I'm at many of the clinics and they are, you know, have visitors there who come at the part of
the reason Treasure Island is a choice for them to come to is because they know this facility is here. They know how good the courts are. They know how good the play is and it draws them back year after year. Not only do we have visitors there, but I've heard other people
allude to it. There are the leagues, whether it be USA, South Panila, Satellite, things like that that need many courts to be able to continue to use the facility. Um, while I recognize the ultimate reduction of courts isn't that many,
disruption during construction and not having those courts available are going to have other people find other places to go, not in Treasure Island. And ultimately, that's going to be a negative to the economy here. and to the revenues and the tourism and the things
I think we all want to see here on the island. I thank you for your time and I I really hope that the ultimate decision is no disruption to our tunnels. Thank you. Thank you, Connie at Sullivan. >> Just left. Okay. Thank you, Kimberly
Stewart. Hello, Kimberly Stewart. I love poems. Long time no see. I'm the odd man out here. Uh I feel like the bad person for loving the idea of something different out there. Um I love the tennis. I love the pickle ball. I love all that stuff and I would never want to disrupt it
because it is obviously something that's thriving. Golf on the other hand, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure that's been a money pit for the city. So, if we can't do something like alternate three where there's other things to draw other people than the golfers and the tennis people, then
let's at least maybe consider a public private partnership so that somebody else can absorb that golf course. And if it's going to profit, it's on them. And if it's not, it's on them. So, I'm going to take care of it and take all that off of us. Because the idea of putting a lot of money into
something that we already know loses money is really hard to swallow. Especially when I think about all the other facilities that we need to be putting money into, things that we aren't talking about so much anymore, but we all know need to be built around here. We have a lot of needs out there. And I just don't see the point in making
a golf course nice again when nobody's actually using it or I'm sorry, people are occasionally using it. Um and again perhaps I'm wrong and someone showed me the financials but >> um that being said again >> please >> um
>> Mr. Mitchell, please. >> The boat docks, you know, putt putter, anything like that. A restaurant out there. I mean, I think that you'd be surprised that the people who are here tonight and the people on those towers, those are the only people who use that. The rest of us don't even know it exists. And if we do, what is there to
draw us out there? We can walk on the beach. And as far as music, I know people hate the noise, but guess what? I hear Ricky Te's music every night. It doesn't bother me. I hear the the corporate sports events. I hear the kite festival and you know standing ovations all that music and guess what I love it
because it is showing that we have a thriving community that people want to come to that they have things to do when they come here and that they're enjoying themselves. Um so I again I realize I'm the bad person. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you Kimberly >> Carl Sour.
Hi, I live in a Capri and I lost my two tennis courts out there and I got six pickle ball courts. So, we used the hell out of those before they went away and now I'm going to lose my tennis courts here for a while and I won't have any courts in here until the new ones get rebuilt. Just don't think that's a great idea. None of the surrounding
communities have a lot of tennis courts anymore. I think Madira Beach has one or two which are reserved for people who do uh lessons first before you're able to use them. Um I think North Readington has one tennis court. So, I'm not sure where we're all going to go play if you
tear those down. So, hopefully you don't do that. >> Thank you, Carl. Marie, Barbara, >> good afternoon. Uh, good evening. Um, I guess what triggered I didn't catch everything in the beginning. I know we only have two minutes so um I might have
missed something but I what triggered it for me the red flag was the initial design um and the ponds. Um the initial design um had the ponds by the two nonprofits, Ottabon and the other um uh nonprofit had the the ponds uh filled in
and um I had uh notified the city to explain that the nonprofits that they who designed and built the living shoreline um about the ponds um I reminded them or I told them that the ponds serve as water retention systems for the village
and um so the city would be respon and the the the village was permitted after the golf course was built in the 60s and then this was built in the 80s in the village. Um so they would be responsible for another system for uh wa water
retention. So that's going to be another expense. uh the city um the parking lot the parking lot some of you have been there I don't know if you've been through the New Bower uh uh uh events for the children for sailing
and all that well the parking I'm glad you're considering that because the parking when we have events like this the the the cars go all the way down the road through Paradise Island here and there probably even down your street you know it's pretty bad when we have big
events and this was for the children's uh Optimus Prime, the sailing uh events that the New Bowers used to put on. Um and then just the last thing that didn't work, of course, we know the swimming pools didn't work. The swimming pool didn't work, so they had to remove that.
And also, um it seems like the volleyball courts, a lot of people don't play there. We grew up playing on the beach, so I wish they would bring some of those, uh nets back on the on the beach. show. Not that I can, you know, really do those play as well, but you know, but thank you.
>> Thank you, Lou Murray. >> Scott McKenna. >> Good evening, Scott McKenna, Isa Capri. um pretty clear you're getting a lot of uh people in support of the tennis courts. Um I wouldn't suggest tearing a hold down a whole lot of tennis courts
with that many people showing up. We looked at uh the new golf course a couple years ago and it was very very expensive. They thought they were going to do it maybe in stages. It was I forget it was like 275,000 bucks just to
do the irrigation systems. They had a a high a guy coming in who was looking at redesign of a par three type course. Uh he was a notori he was very famous guy for designing like a Jack Nicholas par three in St.
Augustine or something like that. It was very expensive. That's a lot of money for that. So maybe a mini putt course. Sure. I wouldn't suggest tearing down anything but uh it'd be nice to have um like some type of a sound stage out there on the water. It's a perfect venue for it. Um, I wouldn't suggest doing
anything after five o'clock. Uh, but afternoon stuff, maybe not too loud with the sound ordinance and maybe some sound blocking um trees and fences to uh to mitigate any type of a of an audio issue. But, um, just try to make it as
good as you can and if it doesn't fund itself, like the golf course, one of the comments that was made was there was only 35 people a day. How are we going to pay for millions of dollars when 35 people a day go there? That's a huge huge expense to the city
we don't need. So maybe mini putt, maybe uh like the lady said, a private uh public uh venture together might help. But anyway, I just I don't want to see a whole bunch of money spent on a golf course nobody uses. And obviously everybody wants to keep those tennis courts.
>> Thank you, Scott. >> This one uh is there a Marie There's only one person left. Maria >> Keith Kate, we'll see if uh somebody else
comes Bye. >> Hi there. I'm Kate Kempker. I live on 21 Belleview Drive. Um, and you probably know me because I'm emailing everybody about the short-term rentals right now and that problem we have. I am all for change and I am all for Treasure Island. I think it's one of the best places to
live. I've been a kid, used to live here as a kid, came back, lived lots of different places and we've just got such a great environment. I think there's ways to create community. Maybe not there. And especially on Paradise, we have enough issues with all of the traffic. I'm just thinking I'm sitting there thinking about the traffic and
turning left in how many people we're going to have and we're not ready for that. We don't have an island for that. And we picked Paradise Island because of the quietness of what it is and the community that's there. And we've already got community. In fact, as a walker in the morning, I see everybody and I know everybody by their dog. So,
we've already kind of got that community. And I appreciate what you're saying, but I'm getting my exercise. I'm walking. And I think there's ways that we have such a great location out there that it's kind of strange to me to have people talking from other islands that they've chose to live on kind of
determining how they want our island to suddenly change. And this is a massive change with number three. We don't have the we don't have the I mean I see the Valero people out all the time cleaning out the um the area in which we need to have good sewage going on. That's a problem we have right now. There's so
many other issues that I think we could focus on to make this better and to build it out. I'm just really a big proponent for number two because I think the golf course, I think there's a great way to start thinking about golf, getting the grandparents to start dropping their kids off during the summer. We could definitely get more than 35 kids there. There's just a lot
of ideas that we could be thinking about with what we have and building on that. And I would love to be part of workshops on how we get more kids and more people involved in our community. Thanks. >> Thank you. All right, I'm going to accept these because we've got a little bit of time
here and we ran out of the the slips. So, Tammy Flake, >> thank you. I sent all of you an email and I heard back from several of you. I do appreciate your responses to to what I sent. I won't go over that again here. I just want to say that that the
facility is literally my backyard. Uh we have patios that look out over it. Our our balcony looks out over it. And one of the things that I think a lot of people here have kind of glossed over because maybe they don't have the perspective that I do from my view every day is that all summer long, all spring,
all fall, all except maybe a month or so out of the year, there are people playing on that golf course. And the thing that I appreciate the most that I find uh really inspiring is when I see families out there and you've got mom and dad playing golf and you got the kids playing foot golf side by side and
families are doing things together. You don't have opportunities to see that very often. We see college kids that come out there and instead of drinking on the beach and partying, they're out there and they're all playing foot golf together and they're having a blast. They're laughing the whole time they're doing it. This is the things that we see
all of the time. Now, with the music venue, I heard somebody mention something about putting sound barriers up. And while I appreciate being able to block some of the sound, I don't want a bunch of trees blocking my view. That's not what we paid for. There's an awful lot of condos that surround the
facility, and we need to keep in mind what the property values are and how they're impacted by the things that we do there. And definitely putting up a bunch of trees that are going to block the views of the people who purchased because of the views is not a wise thing to do. So, just hope you'll keep all of
that in mind as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. And this will be the last one for public comment. Mandy Deetsz. >> Thanks for accommodating that. I was sitting outside listening. Um, and ironically, my comments were going to
start with uh I believe Tammy Flake sent you all an email that had some uh pretty impressive work there. Uh for those that don't know, it was a robust analysis of the um requirements and information around the grants that were involved and
a couple of things that she highlighted in there that I just want to reiterate so that everybody else can hear this. The legal requirements attached to the federal and state grants obtained for Treasure Bay provide clear requirements and restrictions that must be honored. Um so it's great we think about all these things, but we actually have existing requirements associated with
that. The second thing, and others have mentioned it, I heard him from the outside, that prior workshops owners have consistently, your constituents have consistently demonstrated what they do and do not want for Treasure Bay. And I think I would just say two real quick things beyond that. Um, the first one is
the downtown area is where all of our businesses, our shops, uh, our restaurants, our bars, those are also your constituents. and putting some a venue somewhere outside of there that takes revenue and business away from them does not serve those constituents.
And then finally, I would just say that Paradise Island is an island with homes, condos, town houses, a church, and a recreational facility uh and narrow roads. It's not the location for anything other than recreational space, which is what the grants require for us.
So, we hope I appreciate your service very much and I hope you'll continue to represent the interests of your constituents. Thanks for letting me >> Thank you very much. >> All right. So, we are going to close the public comment. Um, the one thing I want
to say is that and I've been saying for the last at least three or four meetings is that where a lot of this is going to be decided is in the budget. the budget is going to takes usually a day or two to get through the budget. Uh but that's
where our expenditures are going to be and our priorities for those expenditures are going to be. So I uh I I'm going to open it up here for a few minutes uh to see what people have to say. But uh but please, you know, try and make it. If you can't make it, share
uh comments with somebody that can. And uh so uh I'll open it up to now to the commissioners. I'd like to actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to say a couple things. First of all, I agree with the majority who said we closed the tennis
courts and changed them to pickle ball in Roselli. And even the thought of taking tennis courts out of Treasure Bay, I think is crazy. Um, if anything, um, I know I've talked to Phil, um, before. We've had
conversations and I will say every time I'm out there, um, rarely is there an empty court. Um, it is busy. Um, it is thriving. I don't know. I know Phil, you probably do and, you know, others would
probably know. If anything, when it comes to the tennis courts, I mean, not saying which whatever we end up doing, I think if anything we because we took them away out of Roselli, I think we maybe should look at putting more in.
So, I just wanted to make that statement. Um, as far as the tennis courts, because um I I definitely would never be for my opinion. I don't know where everybody else stands, but I will say I know a lot of people were upset
and Roselli is in my district and I heard from a lot of people um when that was all decided I was not on the board. Um but um not you know anyway I just wanted to make that very clear as far as the tennis courts and exactly what the
mayor said. Um we definitely have to look at our budget. Um, for those who don't know, the Florida Senate and House both passed today, um, that, uh, the property tax reform is going on the ballot in November.
And so, we have to look at all of that. Um, I'm not going to get into it. I've ran the numbers. I've done all that kind of stuff. However, that is going to have somewhat of an effect on us. Um, so we do have to look at the whole picture.
It's tough and we may not like what things we have to look at and and give and take on, but I definitely don't think the tennis courts is one or definitely should not be one of those things. And in closing, Tammy, thank
you. I have your print out here. You did an incredible job and I do appreciate that. I wanted you to know that. I really went over that and used it a lot and and still am. So, thank you for that hard work. I appreciate that. And that's that's it for me.
>> All right. Go ahead. >> Well, we've been looking at this for for over a decade. We've surveyed residents. We've held workshops. We've hired consultants and developed plans. And we have another workshop today. And each time we're hearing, I think, the same thing. The tennis courts are extremely
important. Uh the golf course uh is too uh alternate three as beautiful as that uh that looks. Uh, I think if Gary, you put as much uh, creativity and effort into making al alternate 2 look uh, look
look equally equally as well. I think that would uh, that would be helpful. Uh, alternate 3 is probably way way too cost prohibitive. Uh, mayor, you mentioned about the budget process. We've got to go into this budget process with a plan to to to to develop uh, the
golf course back at Treasure Bay. It's been sitting empty for years. and to continue to let it waste would be would be a disgrace. So, we've got to figure out how to financially make that work in our budget process as we go into
it. So, I think uh that alternative three needs further development and I think we need a cost and revenue analysis. Um, as for the docks, I think they'd be a great source of revenue, uh, if there would be long-term slipholders, if that's the
direction, uh, we go. Uh, my main question, uh, would be for city staff is, uh, with the PGA grants, uh, I'm sorry, the tennis, US tennis association grants we got, uh, what courses, uh, services are needed and what what we
need more of. I think tennis is definitely I know it's used all the time every time I um trek in that direction. It's it's always in use and I've spoken with Phil many times. Um and that's pretty much all I have. But you know
it's all about numbers. So Chris, >> yeah, first I want to thank Gary for coming up with these three alternatives. I mean I I agree with everyone that stood up that has said we've had meetings about Treasure Bay. I don't know how many I've been through. I've only been here on the board for a year
and a half and nothing ever comes of them. So, I appreciate you for coming and giving three alternatives. Um, I also feel like, you know, you're getting the brunt of taking away some tennis courts. I don't think any of these alternatives would be set in stone. I
don't know why you couldn't on alternate three add two more tennis courts and just reconfigure a little bit. Maybe you don't need sand volleyball or whatever. It seemed like tonight that it was very apparent that the tennis courts are are needed. So, um I don't see why you couldn't uh put two more tennis courts
in there. Um I personally also don't understand why people wouldn't want a state-of-the-art facility. I mean, I play pickle ball all over town and everyone's talking about our courts here, about how amazing they are and how how awesome they are. So, I I I don't I
don't see losing tennis on any of those, especially if you added two chords to alternate three. Um, I see a different sort of golf feature, but at least for my opinion on alternate three, it's something that absolutely everyone from adults to kids to families
could use. Um, you know, I had my two daughters in town over the weekend. Uh, and uh, you know, if if that was there, we would have gone over there. We would have done the putt putt. would have got something to eat and we would have probably played some pickle ball. Um, and probably would have took my boat,
too. Um, but anyhow, I I am uh I think it's great that we have three alternatives. I I agree that we need to find out what all these cost. I also think we need real numbers on what the golf course does make or doesn't make. I think whatever we do should fund itself.
And I think we do something like three alternatives and let the residents decide. I mean, um, I've heard, and I don't know if it's true, I heard that there was a vote at one point that was, do you want a golf course or not want a golf course? And I would vote for a golf
course over having nothing. I mean, so, but now you could say, do you want one, two, or three, and let the residents decide. So, I my residents, I heard people stand up and say, support your constituents. I pride myself on that. I've I've brought up kind of these three
in meetings with my residents. people people are not, you know, crazy about the golf course, but they don't live right there on it. So, um I'm I'm for kind of letting the residents decide. So, >> all right. Well, we won't uh this won't be the last time that we'll be talking
about it, but I would like you to talk amongst yourselves and be ready to talk about it when uh when we get to the budget process in this this coming August. >> M. >> So, with that, yes. Um, are there was there anything up there tonight that the
commission just didn't want? I don't want to endlessly pursue pricing out things that you don't want, but if you don't want to add pickle ball, you don't want to add beach volleyball, you don't want to add the dots, is there any consensus? >> I think number one would be the one that I would take off the list if I had to take one off, but I'm not I'm not saying
we should do that. But >> so my direction is to go try to price each individual element >> with the exception of number one. Well, I I think that uh we can spend some time maybe at uh the meetings coming up. We still have a
couple of months. >> Okay. >> Uh and do it. I think that trying to do it right now um just isn't going to work. >> Okay. >> So, >> I also think it needs to be self- sustaining. I mean, not something that's subsidized. So, >> I would agree. All right. We're going to
uh get back together at 20 minutes after 6 and we are adjourned. Thank you for your patience. Good evening and welcome to the regular commission meeting for March I'm sorry for June 2nd, 2026. I'd like to call
this meeting to order. >> City clerk, please call roll. >> Vice Mayor Vasquez >> here. Commissioner Clark >> here. >> Commissioner Sazan is absent. Commissioner Dicki >> here. Mayor Doctor >> here. >> Thank you. >> All right. The uh the next item is
approval of regular and workshop agendas and uh we uh I think that there's been an announcement that one of our commissioners has a family emergency. Um they have uh he so he has left. Um, I had put on the agenda uh several weeks
ago our first uh item with the P with the plan development and uh per our uh rules for our commission. I am going to remove that item. I think it's important that we have a full house of our
commissioners. So, I'm going to be removing my item and putting it on date certain July 7th, 2026. one other. >> Yep. >> They're like, "Well, we can hear See you later.
Call to order, please. >> We take the conversations outside. Sorry, I'm Hilver here with a dead mic. >> It is. It is definitely on. >> Testing one, two. >> The red light's on. >> The green light is on. >> Can you hear? Okay. Can you hear me now?
>> I think it's too loud in the audience. If we could wait till the doors closed. >> Yep. >> Item H1 won't be heard tonight. if you want to come back July 7 for that item. >> Let's close the doors and >> Okay. >> Okay. Can Can you hear me now?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate everybody's patience. Uh didn't expect to see uh of course anything happen to one of our commissioners and their family members. So, all right. So, um, we have now we
removed H1 and, uh, Commissioner Dicki has asked for a moment. Yeah, I I would like to add uh an item to the agenda and it regards the LPA member uh who uh we've all gotten some recent emails from
residents who are concerned about uh the uh responses this particular individual has made uh on on social media and Facebook in particular. And I'd like to put that uh item on the agenda for discussion.
Does anybody uh do we have a second or >> fine? Yeah, second. >> Okay, let's uh let's move that and let's move it to the the bottom of the uh the agendas. >> Put it under um
>> um >> H8. >> Yeah, put it put it as H8. Now, I would like to uh have the motion as well uh of removing H7, the non-binding referendum. >> I definitely second that.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Do we have any uh other thoughts? We didn't have a second on it, did we? >> Yes, we did. >> Who made the motion? Who made the second? >> I made the motion. She made the second. >> All right. Yeah.
So, I'd like to talk about that when we get a chance. >> What uh what I'd like to do, >> we can leave it on there. >> Let's leave it on there. We can talk about it. We don't uh I I don't I saw I read the uh city attorney's uh position on that. So, I'm not expecting that
we're going to uh have a vote on that tonight, but I do think it's worthy of discussion. And I've got some slides that I'd like to present to the commission for consideration. >> Well, it's two and two and uh so uh it it remains on the agenda.
>> I think Tammy said she's okay with leaving on the agenda or did you want to withdraw? >> No, I mean I I think it's it's asinine to leave it on. It's blatantly illegal. The decision was made. That's not my decision. I'm not into political theater. I'm not into campaigning from
the dis. I am into following the state law. And the state law says we cannot have a referendum vote. I did not say that. Our head city attorney said that. The state of Florida says that. So I
think having a discussion about it is it it's out of our hands. So >> I think the discussion is to talk about some of the other alternatives that the uh the city attorney suggested and recommended. >> Then that should be workshop that shouldn't be on a main agenda in my
opinion. >> I would tend to agree but >> Okay. Um it it's on there. Well, it's on there and the majority can't uh remove it. >> I think he was going to say something. >> I think you just take a roll a vote from the clerk. A roll call vote
on the motion and a second. You have a motion on the floor. >> If the motion fails, then it stays on the agenda. >> All right. So, uh, we have a motion and a second. Uh, roll call, please. >> Mayor Doctor, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Vasquez, >> I. >> Commissioner Clark,
>> nay. >> Commissioner Dicki, >> nay. >> Okay. So, now we can move on. >> Yes. >> And we now have there any other other changes to the agenda? I think there's one more thing unless Raphelis is here. I think they recalled and they were going to be a little bit
late. So, we can move maybe if we could move the presentation D3 um further down and to be um maybe H9
or take H3 at the end. >> Uh yeah, why don't we >> I'm sorry. It was is D3. Yeah. Why don't we uh move D3 to uh right before the uh commissioner reports. >> Okay.
>> And if they're here by that time, otherwise we'll give our reports and we'll move on. Okay. So, uh now moving forward to proclamations, recognition, certificates of appreciation. Um we have two motions here to accept donations
from the American Legion Auxiliary and the American Legion So, uh, our first presentation would be from the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 158 for the Parks and Recreation Department Summer Camp Scholarship Fund.
>> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and value supporters. My name is Pamela Harley. I serve as the auxiliary unit president of the John G. Horan American Legion. It's my distinct pleasure to be here today on behalf of our organization to present a check and
a donation of $1,000 to support the city's islands children's summer camp. Everybody plays. Summer camp holds a special place in our hearts of many. Offering the children's unforgettable experiences, fostering lifelong friendships, and teaching
essential life skills. By supporting the Treasure Island summer camp, we are investing in our own youth's future, giving them the opportunity to learn, grow, and create lasting memories. The contribution reflects on the steadfast dedication and generosity of the
American Legion Auxiliary, who commits to our community and its young members, is truly commendable. Miss Kathy Yes, we will. >> I think we >> we're going to wait for police and fire, too. >> I know everything. >> You have to make the motion.
>> Yeah, that's what we were just getting ready to do. I move to accept the generous donation from the American Legion John G. Duran Memorial Post 158 for the parks and recreation department summer camp
scholarship fund in the amount of $500. >> Second >> 10,000. >> Oh, this is the 10,000. Sorry, I have two for 10,000. >> We have a motion in a second. >> Roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Vasquez, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Dicki, >> yes. Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. >> Mayor Doctor, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> We're also here to express our heartfelt gratitude and support for the dedicated men and women of our police department. Today, we are proud to present a check of $350 to honor your service, bravery,
and unwavering commitment to our safety. Your sacrifices and risks do not go unnoticed. We sincerely appreciate all that you do to keep your community our community pure. >> Thank you, Captain. Additionally, we are pleased to contribute another 350 to the fire
department. We hope this support can aid in your vital work and serve as a small token of our deep appreciation for your ongoing dedication. Thank you for your sacrifices and unwaving commitment. The Treasure Island Auxiliary of the American Legion stands with you in
support and solidarity. motion. That's it. We're going to do this in another minute. Now we have a motion to accept the donation from the American Legion to the Parks and Recreation Department.
>> Good evening. Uh my name is Michael Harley. I'm the commander of the American Legion Post 158 Treasure Island. And uh for 50 years we've been partners with the city of Treasure Island. And thank you the city of Treasure Island. Uh it's been fantastic.
Uh one of the pillars of the American Legion is Americanism and Americanism falls right under the parks and recreations to help the young people with their scholarships. So we're here to give generously as we can. Uh as you know, like everyone else, we're fighting for our health because of the uh
hurricane, but we're back. So want to thank the city for that parks and recreation. >> Thank you Michael. >> The fire department. I can't say enough I cannot say enough about the fire department. What partners you've been >> I appreciate you. Thank you.
>> Fantastic. >> Thank you. >> The fire department uh has come through worked uh not worked but have come through inspected our building. Uh they've done much for the people and and our our establishment. We have 350 uh Legionnaire members and uh every one of
them uh appreciates the job they've done. I myself more than others because the other two weeks ago I I happened to have an episode and next thing I knew I woke up in an ambulance at Downtown Hospital thanks to you. But thank you very much. But again the fire department
I feel safe at night going to sleep. Thank you very much. and the police department. Ride and true. Thank you very much. You >> guys are fantastic. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> And when we have our ceremonies, we
invite the police department, fire department, EMTs, EMTs workers, and it's very nice to have you guys there. And thank you for all you do. >> Thank you. I move to accept the donation from the American Legion John G. Duran Memorial
Post 158 for parks and recreation summer camp scholarship fund in the amount of $500. >> Now we can >> We need a second. >> We need a second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Vice Mayor Vazquez. >> I. Commissioner Dicki. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Clark. >> Hi. Mayor, doctor, >> hi. >> Thank you. Thank you. No. >> All right. And as it's been announced already, Rafillis uh commercial
development master plan progress. We'll try to move those to the very end. And now we'll move forward with uh public comments for non-aggenda items. And the first one that I have is West. >> Mr. Mayor, >> West Evans, Isisle of Palms. Um,
>> how much time do you want on the clock? >> Um, that bad. >> Yeah, we'll go back to five minutes. >> I'm not going to take five minutes. Mayor, I just wanted to uh uh uh uh point out a a an order to the meeting
that seems to be off. A few minutes ago, Ardan Dicki uh his um agenda item. There was a motion made by the mayor to take it off uh seconded by the vice mayor. It went to a vote and uh it was 2 to2 so it
stayed on the agenda. I also noticed that before that uh the mayor went to take something off the agenda which was the PD discussion and there was no vote but it was taken
off. So why was there not a call for a vote on that? Thank you, >> Maria Barbara. >> Yeah, Maria Barbara, Treasure Island. Um, over the past several years, taxes
have consistently been a major topic of discussion within the city, particularly since my recent involvement in local affairs. the retirement probably boosted this. However, one issue that has not received sufficient attention is the role of the lobbyist as a potential
dispensable expense. the community developer director previously the and the previous director uh previously urged the commission at one of the meetings to hire the lobbyists but citizens have received minimal information about the lobbyists
responsibilities or objectives on behalf of the community. This lack of transparency raises concerns especially as objection objections continue to arise regarding every suggestion put forward by residents of some of or some of the commissioners about referendum on
the two LDRs. The absence of clear communications about the lobbyist per purpose and actions has led to the conclusion that the lobbyists should be dismissed. Transparency is crucial and until there's a thorough understanding of the lobby's contributions to the city
other than opposing our LDRs is advisable to discontinue their service. Let's fire the lobbies until we have a good understanding of this. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Marie Christopher Neep.
Good evening. Appreciate your time. Um here today, uh just wanted to make sure did everyone have a chance to get a packet of what I'm going to be discussing about the uh playground heat and safety. make some copies. I can distribute more if you don't have one.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, I think we got it already. >> Uh I'm here today because the playground surfaces appear to be a serious heat and burn risk. The measurements in the packet show that the children's artificial turf hits 139.2 2 degrees F
and the black rubberized mat hits 151 degrees F. The adjacent blue pickle ball court is not being presented as a child safety hazard. It's included because it's a newly built adult use surface measured cool that was measured cooler
than the child children's play surfaces. Nearby natural grass was also significantly cooler which shows that this is a surface selection issue, not just a hot day. >> Speak up, please. Is there a microphone here?
>> Okay. Towards here. >> Uh CSPC guidelines warned that playground surfacing, plastics, and rubbers can be hot enough to burn children and that shade warnings should be considered. I'm asking that the city treat this packet as a notice of documented condition, verify the
temperatures with calibrated equipment, post temporary warnings, or restrict use if war if warranted, and return with a written mitigation plan for shade, surface replacement, or other corrective action. Please don't allow this to remain as an informal concern after it
has been placed into the public record. Thank you, and I appreciate Kimberly Stewart. >> Hello again. Kimberly Stewart, I love Palms. Um, I finally survived the permitting process. I closed out my permit on May
7th and I just want to thank everyone in the permitting department, everyone on staff who helped me through the process and are still helping me with little things that pop up here and there. We really have an amazing staff here and I'm just so grateful for them. That being said, with storm season upon us, I found myself wondering uh if the city
has a clear written plan in place to ensure that the permitting process isn't such a feal show if we have another storm. Uh, for example, has the city formally decided that we're going to go with option two next time so that if a storm happens, all of us know that we can apply for a permit and get back into
our homes without without having to wait for a letter from the city. Um, I'm probably not the only resident who would love to see something in writing saying the city will not waste our tax dollars hiring consultants to send out those letters that were based on assumptions,
estimates, and inaccurate inaccuracies, not facts. Just a thought. I I think everybody would love to never have those letters come up again because I think we've learned that we can just apply for permits and fix our homes and that people understand when their homes need something a little more. Another thing is what about the re-entry passes?
There's a lot of talk about getting rid of those and using driver's licenses, but I haven't heard anything. And again, storm season's upon us. So, as much as we have so much going on, we need to think about preparing us really on on the base level for what we need to do if something happens again. Um, it'd be
wonderful to have it all sorted out now so that we don't get caught off guard um and so that we're not unsure of what to do in the future. I also want to address some of my concerns about the planning and zoning board. It's probably not what you're expecting given everything that's been going on. On March 19th, I attended
a meeting because the house behind me is being elevated and was requesting variances on all four sides of their properties. Extreme variances, 65% variance. Um, a number of things bothered me about the meeting and I don't know if I have time to talk about all of them, but the first is that
staff, at least at that meeting, was clearly making recommendations without visiting the subject sites. Um, it the staff report had inaccuracies like stating that an electric meter was in a laundry room room when it's really on the side of the house. I could see it
from my backyard. Um, things like that are important, especially when they're being used as a reason for the the developer, the investor to do what they're doing. Um, so I really think that staff needs to start visiting properties if they're going to be making
recommendations on things like variances. Um, my next issue is that none of the criterias for the variance were met by this application or discussed by the board members. There was no proof that there was an unnecessary hardship that stemmed from special conditions or unique
characteristics of the property. That property is just like every other property. There's nothing unique about it. None of us have perfectly square lots. You know, all of us have a grandfathered in setbacks that exceed the current standards. So, giving a further variance to that, it's it's
crazy. Um, but none of that was discussed. Instead, one of the board members talked about how he's from the south and he likes wraparound porches and he just thought it was so great that this guy was going to do a wraparound porch. All right. Um, another one talked about
how inconvenient it would be for tennis to have to go up and downstairs to do laundry. Okay, very inconvenient. Uh, what is that? You know, if you watch the video and you start at 2 hours and 3 minutes, you'll hear safety concerns brought up and then brushed aside with a comment
that, and this is a quote, we'll probably end up with a few situations like that in the long term, you know, because of this. And that's just part of the compromise. I didn't think setback variances were supposed to be compromises. I thought that they were supposed to address
unnecessary hardships created by special conditions or unique characteristics of the property. Instead of sticking to the rules, our board has paved the way for future safety issues because of convenience and personal preferences. They've compromised our neighbors safety, our neighborhood safety for reasons I don't really understand. But
it scares me because I feel like they've just forgotten about the importance of safety. I hope someone will look into this and consider making some changes. On top of that, since I have 40 more seconds, you know, other, if you watch that whole meeting, there was a project asking for a variance
because after they finished construction, they were told and passed all their approval, they were told, "Oh, now you need a variance." There's some real gaps here in what people are inspecting and what they think's happening. um for that project to have
gone forward to be completely done and then be told they have to go back and get a variance after the fact. It was full of you know the board members saying I don't understand how this happened and it's a good point. It shouldn't be happening. Um those kinds of things are just crazy to me. So I really think that board needs some help in a lot of ways.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you Kimberly. Mark Hoey. >> Uh good evening. Mark Hoey, District 3. Uh, mayor, I'm I'm a bit conflicted here. I came prepared to discuss during the public comment for non-aggenda items
an item that now based on Commissioner Dickiy's addition to the meeting tonight to the agenda now puts me in conflict with that. So, I would like to ask your consideration to remark my speaker card
for that added. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right, Diana CrarAel. >> Good evening. I'm here on behalf of the treasureletes who have been a pillar in this community for over 70 years. We
have came to the conclusion and had even a secret ballot and voting on this issue on May 18th. And I'm here to say we are disbanding the treasure. We are no longer going to be a taxexempt
or corporation here supporting the island the way that we have in the past. There will be individuals that will step up, but we are not going to be doing this as an organization anymore. In addition to that, we are the one we were the uh
organization that sponsored Thursday night bingo at the community center. Last Thursday was our last evening. I do ask the city to remove all information about the ILTES off of the
website. Uh it's not good publicity for the city or for us with us disbanding and I want to thank all the city for all the ex extraordinary circumstances that they have gone out of
their way to help us. Um and it's been a privilege to be a representative of them and I will have probably more information. We're hoping to be disbanded by September and at that point I would like to come back again and let
you know what what we have been doing in our disbanding. Thank you. >> Thank you Diana Barbara. >> Thank you. What actually how is it pronounced? >> Muino.
Okay. Um Barbara Muno, I live on the in the village of Paradise on um Paradise Island. Um I really just have two things. One is I think it's ironic I have five minutes to speak on a non-aggenda item yet in the workshop I was only able to speak for two minutes.
I think that is outrageous. Um, the reason I am speaking uh right now is um I'm getting conflicting information in regards to whether the walkway is open at the golf course. Is it open or is it closed because
there's people walking out there? >> It's okay. >> We just got the thumbs up that it is open. >> Okay. So, my next comment is I sent an email a couple of months ago in regards to rules and regulations of what's allowed out there and what's not. Um, there's ebikes out there, there's
bicycles out there, there's people fishing. Um, so in order to open something, there should be signs just like there is at the beach where it says no smoking, no whatever. So I would like and I'm just going to throw out some things that I
thought of. I don't know what really needs to be on there, but there needs to be hours and then there needs to be able to secure it so that people can't go out there in the middle of the night because it's right on the village property and there's only a 4ft fence separating
them. Um the second thing is is it capable of being locked? Um I don't know that. Um, and then I know when the walkway was originally discussed, there were some things that were already um
identified as it was only going to be like strollers and wheelchairs and the only motorized would be motorized um um wheelchairs, but no ebikes, no bicycles, no skateboards, those kind of things. So, I don't know if you wanted
to put that in there. Um, since the city is no smoking, I don't know if no smoking needs to be there. Um, I still walk on the beach and I see cigarette butts everywhere. So, I don't know how enforceable that is, but it would be nice not to be able to smoke
out there. Um, of course, I don't think there should be fishing. There's people climbing on the living seaw wall and they shouldn't be. Um, I don't know if you're going to allow pets to be walked because I can tell you from walking, nobody's picking up their poop.
Um, and there are quite a bit of people that are walking dogs right now out on the golf course. Um, there also no garbage cans out there. There's no pet pickup bags. There's no disposal for that. Um, I don't know since now we have
another area for and not to degrade the homeless, but I don't want to see homeless living out on the golf course either. um and if there's going to be any signage um
to um put those rules in place and what they'll be from a monitoring perspective from the police since it will probably be closed at night. I'm I'm assuming sunset to sun to uh sunrise to sunset similar to what the
golf was. So anyway, I had thought when I had sent that initial email that it wouldn't open until these things were in place. So it might be prudent if that I don't know if it needs to go on an agenda or how it needs to be, but it would be nice if we have um those rules
and regs in place. Thank you. >> Thank you, Barbara. Robert Bazo. >> Evening. Robert Bazo. I love Capri. I know you all missed me. I've been gone for about a month out of the country.
It's great to be back. This is this is really exciting stuff. Um um a resident did brought up. It's interesting to me that the clerk or the city attorney did not respond to a a resident, a citizen bringing up the point of whether that the PD item was taken off the agenda,
whether that was uh uh done in uh conforming to the rules and regulations or not. I think that's important. I think the attorney or the clerk should should really uh talk to that. Um but I I guess we're not going to hear from that. Uh number two, uh I'd like to start with kudos first. I wanted to say
uh kudo to our public affairs officer. I think he's the best I've ever seen. He's great. Um I love his drone video. I think he does he's a really good uh um professional and really communicates the best of treasure. So kudos to um to our
public affairs officer. Um I did notice when I got back from my trip that to the city manager. Thank you. The community uh development department director position is out there is posted and I thank you for that. It's beautifully written. uh the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for for that position
is is is is a very high level, and I'm sure you'll uh brief us all on the status of hiring into that position. I think it's a really good job. Thank you so very much. Uh kudos to our city attorney uh for the blood, sweat, and tears the other night for putting out that fantastic uh legal analysis of
whether we are able to put out a a referendum or not. Non-binding, very well written. Um I really enjoyed reading it. Um, and the fact that some people here are taking great joy in us not being able to gauge citizens opinion
to me is uh is chilling. Um, thanks to to him for that work. Um, a couple of couple of meetings ago, the city attorney was tasked by the board to provide a legal analysis of SB718 and its possible impact on on Treasure Island. Um, I'm looking forward to
seeing that report. I think may maybe some of you forgot that you're actually ting to do that. I think it's to me in my opinion one of the most important uh issues facing us right now is whether that Senate bill does in fact null and void our referendums. And I think that's
important. I look forward to seeing um his work product and hopefully it's going to be as detailed as he did on the issue of of whether referendums are legal or not. Um, in my personal opinion, a non-binding referendum is of course legal.
>> Um, I would like to say last few weeks I've been uh overseas and I've been uh in the iron behind the old iron curtain. It was very uh very telling for me. uh most of my career the iron curtain was uh our enemy and uh post 1989 they
embraced capitalism and democracy and I talked to a lot of people when I traveled uh to countries like Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, uh Czech Republic and uh I learned from people about their joy of becoming uh into the
world of democracy, a free country, able to vote, able to uh be have representative government. It was exciting to see u in this 2026 that we in this country have forgotten really what it is to be free and to be
represented by people that we elect and um it was emotional experience for me and I thought about my experience here and I know that uh I know we try hard I know people here are try hard to to be uh effective and to represent the community and represent our views. um
some of the people on the day here don't feel that the need is to gauge um the will of the people and to vote the will of the people and I can tell you something perhaps go behind the the old iron curtain and see what it was to to
live under that regime. We fought that and we won that. These countries are free. Each one of you has a responsibility to vote the will of the people to gauge the constituents and vote that way. We are a
representative democracy and I'm proud uh to have uh fought for it and to defend it. So please please please do not take a victory lap when we are not able to properly gauge the will of the constituents and the will of the
people. It is a freedom that some of us take for granted. So please, let's do better. Thank you, >> Sarah Pennington. >> Good evening, Sarah Pennington, Isle of Palms. I wanted to clarify if item H1,
should that not still be on the agenda since it was not voted off the agenda properly like the other agenda item was voted off. Is that something that our attorney can address for us right now? >> Um, I think a couple people asked, mayor, if you don't mind, I could read the rule. >> Yes, please.
>> Thank you. I know we don't normally answer questions in public comment, but this is under the rules that were adopted. Um 4.6 removing items from the agenda. A
the mayor for an agenda item proposed by the mayor may individually remove an agenda item that they individually originally proposed. That's how H1 was removed >> and was continued to July 7th at 6 pm.
So come back on July 7th. >> Okay. So H1 was originally proposed by the mayor justify and so the mayor can remove that item, >> but when it comes to other agenda items from the rest of the commission, they
can only be removed by a vote. >> For the other item, uh H7, the non-binding referendum was proposed by Commissioner Dicki and that one is also 46A. The commissioner who originally proposed
an agenda item may individually remove an agenda item that they individually originally proposed. He did not wish to remove that agenda item. Um so with changes to the agenda item, you can make a motion to second and take a vote. Um but that vote failed. It was two to two. So therefore the item stays on the
agenda. >> Great. Thanks for clarifying. >> Thank you Sarah Lee Beexton. Lee Bayon is Palm. Um I just want to address what is a glaring um
eyesore on Gulf Boulevard. Um I know we place violations on residents because of the safety factor or not remediating pools or uh lawn care. So and I I have nothing against that. I
think it's it's especially at this time period it's apppropo. Uh but I'm wondering why violations are not being given to I'm thinking of two glaring places. One is the Thunderbird
which is long long overdue to do something. Doors are open, pools are remediated. It's it's a horror to look at and it's the first thing you see coming over the causeway. Uh the other one is I don't know the name of it. It's all boarded up. It's opposite Publix.
It's a hotel. Um, again, where are the violations? People should like this. I mean, it's enough time has has passed. The violations should be um enforced. They're not going to do something. Then let's do something. Let's take the offensive.
It's only fair. The residents have to, you know, do what they have to do. They're obligated to do that. And rightfully so. No argument there. But why are places that are really neglected and are actual hazard? It's it's really it's gross. And uh just
as an additional comment because I know this is uh the planning and the map planning um I was just reading in the paper that the number one city in the United States and hold your hats Carmel, Indiana.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I just wanted to remind everyone on Monday, June 8th, this coming Monday at 10 a.m., we're going to have the second reading. We set
a special emergency meeting so we can address the nuisance abatement uh code and the code enforcement um changes as well as the con condemning buildings that are uh unlivable, and unsafe, unhabitable. So, that'll be approved
hopefully on Monday, June 8th, and then the process can start for those abating the nuisances. >> Can I say something super fast? I see a ton of puzzled looks out there. It's something we already voted on 50 vote once. It's only the second reading,
right? And so, we're just trying to >> second reading. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I that is the end of public comment. Uh, okay. I don't have anything, but come on up.
>> Oh, H1. Uh, >> well, we're not going to be addressing H1 tonight. And come on. My name is Alan Luck and I live on 123 East Bay over Treasure Island here which
I love and respect very much. Uh I just want to say a couple things that I was I've been involved on standing on the corner. I stand out there in wave signs all the time and a lot of people recognize me because of that except I wear my golf
golf hat. And I just want to say that all these last time we had a 76 about 76% of the of the voters voted that for the the height and density and what it is today.
And time after time, honk, honk, thumbs up, wave. So I know that 76% of the voters still believe in what we pass back then should
be the same now. Number two is I don't know how the simple majority can vote for changing height and density with a simple vote. I don't know how they can
do that. Should be a full vote of the of the board. And I that's all I have to say. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay. Now we'll close public comment. and we'll move on to uh there is no
approval of the minutes. So the next is the con uh >> consent >> consent agenda. >> Thank you. >> Uh G1 non-exclusive license agreement renewal with Taylor Beach Service. I move to approve the consent agenda as
presented. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I also al also going to announce G2 non-exclusive license agreement renewal with Allaround Amusements LLC. That was both our consent agenda items. >> I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second.
>> We have a motion, a second. Do we have any discussion? Uh public comment. Okay, we'll close public comment. Let's take a roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Vasquez,
>> I. >> Commissioner Dicki, >> I. >> Commissioner Clark, >> I. >> Mayor Doctor, >> I. >> Thank you. >> All right. Items of business. H1 has now been removed. Moving on to H2. H2. Go. This is review of ordinance
2026-15, an ordinance of the city of Treasure Island, Florida, amending chapter 70, planning and zoning of the city of Treasure Island code of ordinances by revising section 70-31 exemptions from site plan review by
adding an exemption for city infrastructure projects from site plan review requirements providing for conflict providing for severability providing for codification and providing for an effective date. Do we have a motion? I move to approve ordinance number
2026-15 recommending exemption from site plan review for city infrastructure projects. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Do we have any public comment? >> Scott, please step up.
Scott McKenna Ala Capri. Um I read through this and um it just it just kind of struck me a little bit weird. Um why would we have this exempt from from site reviews? It
doesn't seem like it's very transparent. like we just voted a while back to add um to add the public and or or city city property to the master plan. So if you're going to add city property to the
master plan and then you have it's you have the type of work that's going on in say the city that may or may not affect residential properties around it. Um could be an eyesore for a period of time. there might be something there that that if it's presented or if it has
a site review, you you get a chance to to say, "Okay, well, we need to mitigate this, we need to mitigate that." I just it seems like it's not transparent to do that. I don't understand why that's being done now. I mean, do we have to do site reviews now? You're asking for an exemption for it. So, obviously, we have
to do site reviews. So, is there something that's coming up that people don't know about? I just I don't know. It just seems not that it shouldn't. I don't know. It just It just doesn't seem as transparent. If we're doing it already, why don't we continue doing it? I understand that it saves time and
money, but I just don't know. It just doesn't seem very transparent to me. >> Thank you, Scott. Okay. No other. We'll close the public comment. Richard Harris. >> Richard Harris, 374 Bay Plaza. Just
wanted to clarify what this is. Uh Gary Volinac, public works director, requested this in order to remove minor projects. This is not removing all projects from the planning and zoning board review. If it's a major project,
like a major expansion to an existing building, we're still going to see it. What we were talking about is like replacement of a seaw wall at the end of a dead end street about 50 feet of seaw wall. We're going to approve it and there was no need to hold up the project
for that long. We had a situation where a pump station needed a uh variance, but we don't need to see a site plan for a pump station. Pump station is a pump station. So, what this is intended to do is streamline the situation. take out
minor little real little projects but keep the major ones more than a thousand square feet more than 10% expansion in the uh review of the planning and zoning board. Thanks.
Thank you, Richard. Anyone else hearing? None. Um let's have a uh we have a motion and >> discuss. >> Yeah, please. I just and Richard kind of
answered some of my questions. I I too was a little nervous about this because anytime you take away site review um it just made me a little nervous and Richard you did kind of answer that question because I was going to ask for an example of
so basically if I understand it correctly and I sorry I keep looking back there because I see Gary. So, if I understand it correctly, this is only on like repairs, like you said, seaw walls, things of that nature. It's not building
any new buildings, adding anything. This is strictly for small hyper. Okay. And like I said, I I thought Richard answered it pretty much, but I just wanted to be clear that this is not like you're not going to do a site review on
the new public works building or public. So think different things like that. It just concerned me. So okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Do anyone else have anything? >> Go ahead and give us a roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Vasquez.
>> I. >> Commissioner Dicki. >> I. >> Commissioner Clark. >> I. >> Mayor Doctor. >> I. >> All right. Now, we're going to go into a different phase here going into a quasi judicial proceeding. So, I'm going to turn it over to our attorney. Um
the next items are quasi judicial H3, H4, H5 and H6. Um the difference between legislative and quasi judicial is legislative is when you're adopting changes to the code and then quasi judicial is when you're
applying the code to a sightspecific application. So these are sight specific applications uh for special exceptions uh site plan reviews temporary temporary parking lot. So the main difference here is you will have to do exparte
disclosures that's means anything that you um have heard or talked to anyone or whether you went to do a site visit um and to confir confirm that you're going to make your decision based on what's heard in the hearing today much like a
judge. Um, so if you've talked to anyone, disclose who you talked to and what you talked about. Um, if you did a site visit, disclose that. And then we'll also have to swear in all the witnesses. So, anyone that's providing testimony today will swear that it's um,
true and accurate and that they're not providing any false information. and staff will walk you through each one of the applications and compare it to what's in the code and the criteria that are there so you can make your quasi judicial decision after hearing from the staff, the applicant, the public and
then you can discuss it. >> Okay. I did uh have a a site visit to both of the locations here and I did talk to some of the residents in the area. >> Okay. >> Mayor nothing, Vice Mayor Nothing. And
then Commissioner Clark, nothing. >> And then clerk, would you swear in on witnesses? Would you like to swear them for all the items or >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, if you'll be giving testimony for any of the variance, I'm sorry, the quasi judicial proceedings this evening, please stand and raise your right hand.
>> Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give before the city commission is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Thank you very much. You may be seated. If I may, Lauren Rubenstein. I'm here on behalf of the applicant and in light of
not having a full board tonight, we would respectfully request that we defer the next four items on the agenda to the next regularly scheduled meeting. >> An applicant under the rules is entitled to one continuence.
Private applic. 6B. Private applicants may request the continuence of an application that has been considered as a consent or action item before or at the meeting. However, if the item has already been advertised in notice, the continuence will be considered at the meeting and subject to
a majority vote of the commission approving the continuence request. And if the request to the continue the item is denied, then the applicant should be prepared to go forward. If you do continue the item, we should pick a date and time certain so everyone knows when to come back. So we would probably pick
the first full meeting in July which is July >> 7th. Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We don't have any uh we do we take an official vote. Is that
>> I think you don't have to. You can if you'd like to. Let's with consensus we'll move this to July 7th. >> Okay. Let's go ahead and do it then. >> Okay. I'm fine with that. >> I'm fine. >> Okay. So, we got three that are good
with a continuence. >> Okay. Thank you. And we'll see you on uh same time but on July 7th. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, just for your uh in the commission's knowledge, uh the representative from Raph Tillis has
shown up. So, okay. >> They're ready to go when you are. >> Well, perhaps we could take them now. >> Okay. Why don't we do that? It'd be a good place to put them in. They are here. Here he comes. >> Yep. Come on.
>> Okay. Well, is this going to catch my voice? >> Yes. >> Um, >> just speak loudly. >> Yes, we'll do. Um uh good evening um members of the council and the public. My name is uh Terry Bovery with Rafalis
for the record and I'm here today to give a brief update on the commercial redevelopment master plan engagement that we've been asked to do. I have a very a bridged presentation for tonight and um I'm here to help address some questions about the uh engagement that
we've been um tasked to perform. Um, I'm just going to talk about our timeline, provide an update about the engagement, talk a little bit about our community engagement efforts, and then open it up for Q&A. Uh, I I can appreciate that this is very
small font. So, um, we have about um nine different tasks involved in the engagement. And um where we're at today is uh if you look at the bottom hand uh part of the screen, it gives you a timeline effectively and we're in the
early stages of the project. Basically at the initial stage of the project and what we've been able to do is um perform some initial um stakeholder uh interviews mainly with all the elected officials here. I want to thank them for
their time uh that they offered us to um provide us their input. Um we're going to be talk I'm going to be talking a little bit more about how we're going to get engagement with members of the public within the community as well. But um basically we're sitting at task two
review assess scenarios feasibility strategies and we're in the initial phases of that. we're going to be going into um the summertime and that's when we'll be getting into phase three um which is more um of the engagement um in
the modeling and impact analysis. Um but before I kind of talk more about the timeline, I just want to talk about um how we're approaching this. So, um, we're trying to do this, uh, in recognition that we're, um, we have some
potential sites that are ready for development and that we want to kind of move quickly potentially to do those, but balance the uh, importance of this whole process with that. So, we're we have these two parallel tracks that we're effectively running in order to
accomplish that. And one of the things that we talked about when we were selected um you know by the city was the importance around trying to provide a practical understanding about the economic impacts of different types of developments that can occur. And I think
our main goal when we perform this study is um to provide an independent uh third-party analysis and provide you know you all and the members of the public with an understanding about what these different things really mean. Um
you know we have some folks um you know land owners that are indicating that they can't really redevelop under the current conditions. We're trying to explore that and assess that and we're trying to provide clarity around what does that really mean and one of the ways that we're seeking to do that is to
utilize an economic impact analysis um studying these various developments evaluating what the ROI would be associated with those developments and determining whether you know or not the existing um land use um can accommodate
that or not and then providing that is information to everyone basically so you can make an informed decision and then also helping everyone and members of the public to understand what does that really mean. Um you know to the finances
of the city to how the aesthetics of the community would be and longer term even um you know which is kind of a core goal of this uh master planning effort which we are doing on a very a bridged um time scale as you can kind of see.
So that's kind of a quick overview of the overall, you know, purpose of the project. Some focus on what we're um trying to do, a key area with the economic analysis. We're doing much more than that. Um but that's something I think that most people are probably interested to hear from us about
probably today given where we're at in the process. Next slide, please. So at this point, I'd like to just run through again, I know there's a lot on here, but just wanted it for the record for everyone. um what kind of engagement are we doing? So, uh I believe here this
evening there might be some flyers that folks can pick up, members of the public and um you know, we have a website. We're trying to make this a transparent process um to the best of our ability for everyone within the community. And
um you know, these flyers are going to give you key information about um some of the things that we're going to be doing. uh you know, it's going to lead you to a website landing page. Um we're going to be doing an online community survey so everyone can kind of weigh in
and we can get feedback about um you know how you feel about development in your community. I think um that I believe is expected mid July. uh have on there June, July, but um you know, I'm filling in for our project manager who's
currently out and then our uh one of our lead analysts who fell ill uh with the norovirus. So, I'm not 100% so please don't uh quote me on that, but I believe it's going to be mid July. Then we have um the parallel track where we're trying to meet with some of the developers and
owners to understand some of the projects that they're trying to do. Reason being is we want to get information from them so we can run our own economic model to assess, you know, the um constraints around the land use codes to see um what the basic ROI would
be on a project if they were to run it. And we're trying to look at that um under current marketing conditions for what it would cost to purchase land, construct all the infrastructure, and our um our expert leading that, his name is Stephen McDonald. um you know he he
serves as um an adjunct professor in economics. He's done a lot of these types of valuations and economic impacts. He's a certified valuation analyst and has done a number of these types of studies. Um so he's leading the effort on that economic um you know
model work effort and then that's going to feed into our broader analysis. Um we're going to have study area uh open meetings um open meetings for each of the five areas. So we're going to try to go to the different areas and have meetings within the community to hear
from everyone. Um we're going to be have a visioning opening house um closer to early fall and um this is going to be where we've taken all of that input, all of that analysis and we're going to be presenting about that. I believe um
we're also going to have briefings like we're doing today at um at key milestones um uh primarily during the end of each phase was the idea that we would be back uh before you all to kind of present on the findings of our
evaluation. Um, you know, at this particular time, you know, we're just in the data collection phase, so we don't have anything necessarily to present other than, you know, the engagement plan that was developed and finalized with aid of um, city staff. Um, and then
we'll be drafting um, uh, the uh, plan, the draft plan community meeting, uh, which will be in late fall. Uh we'll also be drafting a report to support all of our analysis and um submitting that as well. And then um finally in
November, December um in to be in line with the original uh timeline of the engagement for our project, we're supposed to be done November, December with our work effort. So at that time, we'll be bringing it back for um commission review and adoption. So
that's um an overview of our recently finalized community engagement plan at a high level. Um you can see some of the um work products um just starting to come out from that. And um again, you know, a very important element of this
project is to demonstrate, you know, our independence and transparency around this project for the benefit of the community and for educating everyone about uh the economics and um the ramifications of that to the um greatest
extent practical um you know for the engagement. So with that, I'd like to open up for any questions that you may have at this time. I have some questions about the comm uh the community survey, the online one. Uh
first of all, I I'd like it uh I think most of us would like to see what those questions are that are going to be a asked on that survey before uh before it's too late to add some suggestions to it maybe. Uh the other thing is I think we need to make sure that it's a
controlled response. In other words, one person can't go on 10 times and respond to the same survey. So I think you know however you set that up whether you you know one response per URL address or how you set it up has got to be it's got to be controlled.
>> I assume that uh you you had intended to do that anyway. >> Yes sir. Um, Cheryl is is um our project manager and she's an expert at the engagement piece of this. And um, from my vantage point, normally when we've done these types of things, we do think
through all of those things and have them accounted for, but I've taken a note here and um, certainly I don't see any issue with sharing the questions ahead of time. So, I'll talk to Cheryl about um, facilitating us sharing those with um, you know, the our our elected
body. >> Thank you. I have two questions. Um, >> can you hear me now? Um, I have two questions. Uh, number one, I think I guess it was Sher who I spoke to, uh, uh, yeah, for like an hour. Had a great
conversation with her. It was super impressed. Um, and she told me that it's going to be a lot of work, but you were going to have this done in the 9-month time frame, like December at the latest. So, I just wanted to clarify that with you. It's not going to be the year and a
half or two years or five years that, you know, a lot of people were were saying it was going to take. You're going to have this done in the 9month time frame. >> Yeah. I think that um ideally we would like a longer period of time, but um we're doing this on an accelerated and
condensed time frame, and we're trying to put everything in and schedule it. So, so far we've been kind of successful um at that. We don't foresee any delays at this time, but our original plan is to stick to the timeline that you know I just presented and that you just
mentioned. >> Okay. And the second question I had, I know when we um I think you were here when we you kind of were getting selected and you took questions and the question came up around PDS and should there be something that should be used?
And when I spoke to Cheryl on the phone, she seemed somewhat surprised that we were, you know, passing this PD ordinance now. She had told me that, she had told me, she said, "Wait a minute, that's kind of supposed to be at the end of the process and then we'll take
everything we've learned and that will help us write the PD ordinance that takes into account everything that everyone's kind of agreed on." And you know what I took from the conversation when you answered yes pies are something we should use everyone just took that as
we need to do them today. And so I if you could just comment on that because that was kind of a you it made sense to me what she was saying. So >> yeah I I think that like you know if if you had sufficient time that would be ideal. I think it's about objectives. So
if we have a lot of properties that um we want to expedite development of um the PD process is well known for aiding with a lot of the challenges that you can encounter for the development. And um I think that you know when we were
asked whether we could do that in parallel we said that yeah you could try to do that if your objective obviously is to try to move these things along. I think ideally if we could put it, you know, on the tail end of the process, but one thing I would say that we're
trying to do here is um do a lot of this outreach pretty quickly. And um we're doing these things actually concurrently. So I think we are going to be feeding this into that whole process as well. Um we definitely want to get the public input. Uh the surveys, like I
said, are going to be going out pretty soon in the next 30 days, 45 days. So that's actually not that long of a time frame before we start to get a lot more direct input from members of the public. And I think um try to um implement some
guidelines too to the PD process. So that's one of the things that our team Jordan and Cheryl are going to be working on are things to help guide us on that whole process that um are going to be, you know, effectively coming out of the U master plan process. So yeah, I
think ideally it would be better to run the process a little bit differently with time, but if the objective is we want to try to get these things moving, then trying to do them in parallel is um you know allows enables us to to do them um more quickly. And frankly, I think
like one of the key things that we're trying to do is the economic impact analysis of some of those projects that are on the PD process so we can evaluate whether or not, you know, they make economic sense and whether or not we do need a change or make some recommendations for for um changes to
the code. >> I'm going to tag on to that. I actually got pretty much the opposite response um from Cheryl. Um she wasn't a bit surprised that so I don't know if she talked to me after you. I don't know.
But she was not at all surprised and she actually said especially with the expedited timeline that you all are under that that would be ideal so that we could get these projects going. Um,
everyone knows the um the finances is is probably in my opinion the feasibility studies one of the most important parts of this. Um, and all of us agreed before we spent taxpayer money on a master plan
that we would wait on making mass huge decisions on heightened density until we had the feasibility studies back. Um, that's what we all agreed to. Um unfortunately other things
have been taking place in the meantime and um doesn't seem to be being honored. Um however I just want to say that um I did get the opposite response and that
I was told that it was good for us to run it in parallel and said the exact same thing you just said. Ideally, if it was the normal 18month, whatever process that you generally take to do a master plan, then it would be done
toward the end. But given our circumstances that it was good to because I that was one of the specific questions that I spoke with her about. >> Yeah. And and I would say that we're if if I may speak um I would say that we're somewhat agnostic to the tools. I'll
call them tools to achieve some outcome. I think that we try to look at it first from what are kind of the objectives and the time frame that we're operating in and then we work from that position to try to figure it out and I think we want transparency around that process and communicating and you know so the
economic impact analysis the model the results of all that are going to be shared publicly um all of this stuff is going to be communicated so to the best extent possible that we can and keep everybody in the loop and try to move this thing as quick as possible which is
Um, not typical. Normally we have a longer time frame for everything. >> Yeah. I guess my hope would just be that we get some resident input on whatever we move forward with. >> Yeah. And and I think if you go to the next slide, you know, we touched on a
few ways that we're going to try to do that. Um, and we balance that too. I mean, you know, we have um a scope. There's a cost to do these types of studies, too. There's like a there's some tradeoffs too and the time constraints. So we tried to balance everything as best as we could and we
think that um you know Cheryl I think believes this is a pretty good engagement plan and that's her area of expertise. So um I'd like to let her kind of come up here soon and then give her input on that and maybe address any you know um confusion there might have
been when she talked with you all. All right. Uh, do we need to take any public comment this presentation? >> You don't have to, but if you want to, you can. There's no action being taken. It's just a report. >> Then, uh, let's go ahead and move on.
>> Thank you, Terry. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. So, now let's back to our agenda and we are now at H7 non-binding referendum which was put on by
Commissioner Dicki. U last night uh very late in the evening about 11:30 or so I learned that I'd gotten an email about a two a couple of hours earlier that kind of changed uh uh the entire scope of this uh topic and this discussion. Uh, and I and I did
sleep over and that that email was uh from the city attorneys who uh stated their legal opinion about whether or not we could do a non-binding referendum. Uh, and I was pretty disappointed. I had spent the last couple of weeks with
Ralph uh review going through these slides that you're I'm not going to go through all the slides. I'm just going to hit one or two of them here and then a a couple that I've added. And I have no intention here of pushing for any kind of vote or anything like that. I just want to give a little bit of background here in particular because uh
Vice Mayor uh Vasquez's husband uh gave me a shot on on social media uh uh at late last night as well, which made for a a poor night's sleep, but that that's beside the point. But anyway, the shot
was that uh Commissioner Dicki should do his homework before he proposes something like this because he could have cost the city millions of dollars uh and uh because I had not done my homework. So, I should do my homework next. So, I anyway I I felt I needed to
address that and and uh show you that I did try to do my homework. But anyway, four weeks ago, I did bring this the the idea up about doing a non-binding referendum and I did ask the city attorney to look into the the is it was it feasible? Could we do it? Was it
legal? So, in the LA and then two weeks ago after talking with the uh city attorney, I did get a sense that that a non-binding uh referendum was uh was allowed and was legal. So, I was prepared to present that. And two weeks ago, I wanted to give my fellow commissioners plenty of
time to think about it. So, I I alerted them that I was going to ask to have it on this uh commission meetings uh agenda and I gave them an outline of what that might look like so they could give it some thought. Uh but anyway, so like I said, I'm not going to go through all
these because some of it's a moot point. I do understand uh the issues, but uh anyway, the the the reason why I thought it wasn't such a uh that that it was the right thing to do is is it didn't change as far as uh legality of it. It doesn't change any
laws or zoning. It doesn't approve or deny any project and it simply allows the residents to express their preference in a in a structured manner. Now, I said I'm not going to go through all of these slides and I'm not. But but why did I want to do it? I wanted to get
a clear feeling about clear gauge of how the public feels about this because because you know it, you know, back in 2016 or whenever we did this before it was like 73% and in favor of limiting uh heightened density and we and you know
this is a different time, a different age. We've gone through the hurricane. We've got a lot of areas that that need to be developed. So I I thought this was a good way to to gauge public sentiment on this issue. Uh like I said, I'm not going to go through these benefits and downsides uh because this is a moot
point at this uh point, but uh I did review these slides with the city attorney and and on this particular issue, this is a sample ballot that I was going to ask. Uh it's three simple questions is is what is what is your how did how which approach should guide
future development in Treasure Island? It was the number one their item was preserve existing height and density limits throughout the city. Uh the number two was preserved limits generally but allowed targeted flexibility. Uh and then you see number three was was
broader uh uh development uh with increases in heightened density. So that's what I I was looking for. Well uh the work I was doing with uh Ralph, he said that we couldn't do this. We had to have a binary. We could only ask one question and it had to be a yes and no
question. Uh so after he told me that Oops. Where did that go? I'll be darn I think I have it right here. I don't know why it's not there. Uh it's not there. This this isn't the same presentation that I sent uh today.
Sorry, I don't know where that one is. But anyway, let me get off of this. Let me go back to here. >> Basically, you broke it up into three questions. >> Yes, I broke it up into three questions that were that were the same thing. Let me go back. That's probably the best way to look at it right here.
Yeah. So, I took each one of those points and just said frame them in a yes no style. So, so I thought we were pretty well on track uh until 6:42 p.m. we got the email from uh from uh Becky Boss basically and and yourself that
said uh hey, we couldn't do this. And I under, like I said, I understand uh the the reasons why uh the city attorney made the points that uh uh the the state law says an initiative or referendum process in in regard to any land
development regulation is prohibited. And you know, that's pretty straightforward. Uh heightened regulations or land development. Her points uh were height regulations or land development regulations. density regulations or land development regulations. The proposed referendum is
specifically about heightened density. Therefore, the referendum would be in regard to land development regulations. So, I again I don't know how uh uh I I must have sent the wrong uh uh presentation because I did add a couple
of slides here. This is the older this is the the original one. But anyway, so I understand that, but I do I am going to push back a little bit on that and not with my fellow commissioners, but with with uh on the legal side of it is this I will reiterate that this proposed
referendum is not intended to approve a resoning. It's not intended to approve a comprehensive plan amendment. It's not intended to approve an ordinance or or uh uh approve a development order. It is intended to gauge public sentiment to
and to inform a master planning process. So, I was going to suggest uh that we ask the Florida Attorney General uh this simple question. Does a purely advisory non-binding public opinion question constitute a prohid prohibitive
referendum process in regard to land development regulations? So, I I was going to suggest to this group that that either the city attorney or the mayor or the city manager. Uh if nobody else wants to do it, I'll be more than glad to uh do it myself. But I understand the
attorney general is required to respond to questions like this from uh uh local government officials. Uh so uh I did look into that. Uh so anyway, I think I think we you know we we that question needs to be asked. I respect uh Becky
Boss's uh opinion on this and I understand like I said it it does make sense given the restrictions we have but I but I don't want it to settle there. So I think we do need to ask an opinion from the attorney general. >> I can look into the process and I think we also need to be give give the
attorney Florida attorney general James Udmire the exact ballot language. >> Yes. >> So that he can look at it. >> It really turns on on one matter really to explain to the public. height and density and whether that's in
regard to a land development regulation. And um I think the debate that Becky and I had was um it seems like height and density is related to land development regulations and whether related to is the same thing
as in regard to. And when you look at the grammar and the definitions, they're pretty pretty close. There may be some some distinction there. Um, but we could definitely look into the attorney general opinion request process and we
can send that up there to Tallahassee. >> Yeah. >> And they can take a look at uh the reason we're reluctant to to do it is if you uh especially even without an attorney general opinion, for example, if you uh as a city violate a state
preeemption, um then you can get hit with attorney's fees. There's a statute that enforces these state preeemptions that can um hit you with attorneys fees and also um withhold other monies uh from cities who ignore the state
preeemptions or state requirements. >> Right. And and >> James Meyer and his office is known for doing that. So we want to make sure that we clear it through the governor and through James before we do that. >> Sure. Again, I have no intention of preempting the state laws or trying to do that.
>> You just want to know whether it does or not. Exactly. Exactly. And that's what you and I have been working on for the last two weeks. So anyway, I just wanted to >> This is a very difficult question as you and I have worked on it for two weeks. >> It has. So anyway, I just for the official record, I did do my homework. Uh and I didn't appreciate the comment.
Uh so well, as far as that goes, I will say this. Um, if I got upset every time a spouse of a board member said something disparaging, I'd be upset every day. I have no more control over my husband than Grant Smith has over his wife.
>> The the >> So, every single day I get attacked. So, I've learned to just ignore it. And those are our spouses and they're going to defend us. So, um, that's that's exactly what I would say as far as that goes.
>> Bring this to order. So, um I I will say this um when it was brought up initially, I said repeatedly that this was not legal.
I gave the statutes. I absolutely looked at every angle. I spoke to several attorneys in Tallahassee. I spoke to and I can't say because it wasn't on a official legal
basis but some place that I was at Saturday with the AG and I knew from day one and I said this is not legal and before it was my problem with it is
is it was put out there beforehand and then when someone like myself who comes along and says this isn't legal, this is going to cost the taxpayers potentially millions of dollars if we would have put it on a ballot because the property
owners, the commercial land owners could have come back and sued us for millions of dollars on top of what the state could have done. So my problem is and then I look like the bad guy because
I speak fact and you can think I'm the bad guy because you disagree with me. I can hear every one of you and it's very disrespectful. No one should interrupt any of us when we're speaking. You have your time at the podium.
And my point is these things keep happening and it's in my purview grandstanding so that it looks as if I am for the people. I'm definitely for the people.
If anybody thinks that I'm up here for $380 a month because it makes the big bucks and that I tolerate being disparaged every day on social media because I speak truths and
fact and legal absolute fact. I don't speak those things unless I know that to be true. So I I didn't say the things to you that upset you. So I am going to say though
this was my fear. This is exactly what I expressed at that time and my opinion is it should have been researched. It should have we should have had the legal opinion from our city
attorneys before it was ever put on the agenda to give whether you want to call it false hope. Um, no matter what you want to call it, it should not have been done until that was completed. It stinks
that it came out the the night before. I hate that it came out the night before. I wish it would have happened way earlier, but it didn't. I'm so thankful that it did come out before it was put on the ballot. But
by no means am I trying to not listen to the people. I can tell you and you can believe me, you cannot believe me. It doesn't matter. The majority of the people that I talked to in district one
absolutely 100% just want our city back. We all agreed. And this was the part that I was completely against it at this point, even if it was legal, because we
all agreed to hire a master planner. We all agreed to spend the money, the taxpayers money, and that we as a commission would come together once we
had the feasibility studies on these five properties that we chose, and we would see their suggestions of what it was going to take if we needed to make adjusted adjustments in our height and density and intensity, if we didn't,
what that looked like. And then we would make the educated decision to the best of our abilities to do the right thing because we could have 80% of the city
against going up 20 ft. And if it's not feasible for a developer to do it, they're not going to build it. And we're going to end up with more parking lots. We had two parking lots on our agenda tonight.
Yet again, one golf that was going to be a parking lot. So, you can get angry at truth. You can get angry about what I say, but what I'm saying is I don't want to live and I don't believe the majority of you want
to live in a beautiful place that has amazing beaches and a disgusting city because that's where we're at. If you don't go back into our neighborhoods and our beautiful houses, we have parking lots, we have we have empty lots, we
have orange fences, and it's not pretty. I've lived here almost my entire life since I was 9 years old. And we can take straw poles. We can do whatever we want to do. And we can do
that. That's fine. But doing any of it before we have the feasibility studies that we all agreed to pay $200,000 for to make those decisions on I feel is irresponsible and it's not fiscally responsible for
sure because it's just more money, more money, more money. And it also gives the general public false hope because again I don't care if 80% of the island says no we don't want things to change
and the feasibility study comes back and says yeah you have to raise 20 20 feet yes you have to go to 80 feet or no or they can't afford to build it's irresponsible
and I again I deal in facts. I don't deal in feelings. I deal in facts. Numbers don't lie. And I know you're a numbers guy. Numbers don't lie. And if you can't afford to
build it, you're not going to build it. Not one person in here would put an investment into something. Not one person in here would put an investment in something that they're not going to get an ROI on for 20 years. Because if
so, I assure you if you want to build these beautiful little twostory hotels, which I personally love as well, I promise you if you go to any one of these land owners and you give them fair market value and you want to build what
you want to build, I don't probably know one of them that wouldn't sell it to you. But no one is going to invest in something that is not going to give them a return on in their investment. So we
need to honor what we told our our citizens when we agreed to spend $200,000 on a master plan and the feasibility study. We should honor and I fully intend on honoring what we said which is
waiting waiting for the feasibility study. See what that comes back at and then we can work together to make these decisions and then at that time because we'll have so much community uh input in
that time period. So then we can all come together with the facts in front of us with facts, not well 80% of the people don't want it. Well, again, okay, I would love to have Treasure Island that I grew up in in the 80s and
90s. Can that happen? I don't know because we don't have the feasibility study back yet that we are paying for. So, I believe in working on facts and we don't have the facts right now.
We don't have, as our master planner just said, they're just getting started. We have pushed them from an 18-month process into a 9-month process, which is also why running the PDS parallel so that by the time we get to the master
plan, hopefully the PD process, because we have to go through changes with all that that takes time. Hopefully, it all works out to where it can be done at the same time so that we're not waiting an additional however many months to get that process approved so that we can
start moving our beautiful city forward. And anybody who thinks that we aren't going to be impacted because we all know when you put tax savings on a ballot, it's going to pass. I can't imagine the property tax issue not passing in
November. I can't imagine it not passing. Um, it needs 60%. The facts are, excuse me, the facts are that
we are 40 approximately 40% homesteaded properties in the city of Treasure Island, which is relatively high for a beach community. The first year, $150,000 additional is going to be added
as a deduction. That will affect us. Not massively, but it's going to. The second year is 250,000. That's going to cost the city if nothing changed today
in the $1.5 plus million dollar range that's going to be coming out of our budget just from that. So, if we don't start looking forward now, when we get to that, and we're not
even going to go into once we get to the ultimate goal, which is 500,000, if we don't start planning and we don't start moving our city forward, it's not going to be good for any of us. And all
I'm trying to do is be fiscally responsible. I'm trying to make the best decisions that I can to move this city forward because I plan on living here for the rest of my life. And I
refuse to play political theater just because it's what a small group of people want to hear. And I absolutely will not absolutely will not say something and do something
just because it makes the same group of people that come to every meeting and laugh at me and and sit in the back and do their little things like they're doing currently for those who can't see on who's watching online for whomever.
I'm not going to do it just so that I get your applause. I don't do this job for applause. I do this job because I love my city and I sure as heck don't do it for the $380 a month. >> Uh can I go? >> Sure. >> I just have a couple comments. Um I'm
not going to argue with the city attorney. Um I thought this was a good idea. I mean I think you have I think it's no secret you kind of have two factions. you have people that want a lot of possible height and density of other people that want to try to keep
things if possible you know smartly developed and smaller and I think this would have got us to the answer. Um I do agree that you know I am I am also putting some stock into the master plan that hopefully we can find out um you
know some of those things from the economic analysis and that will play a part in this. Uh but there's two other issues. Number one is this doesn't really solve the problem because we could have done this. All five commissioners could have voted yes, we
want to do this and and it could have come back 9010 one way either way, whatever you want. And nothing stops a commissioner from continuing to vote against that. So, but there is there is a way when you that you do have a voice
and that's at the ballot box. And we have I think three uh positions coming up at uh in March. And theoretically, if in each one of those three uh districts there's one candidate that wants a bunch of height and density and another one
that doesn't, whatever the real number is should win. Whatever side should win. Correct. So, uh, it's really in your hands. Go out and vote for the what you feel and what you want. And I think then we'll find
out if it was 8010 8020 this way or 8020 that way. So, it's in your hands. And if you don't go vote, that's on you. But, um, I think you still have an opportunity to do exactly what um, Ardan was trying to do, and that's in March.
the uh I I would just like to add a little bit here too is I have thought all along and I think after listening uh to to to Commissioner Clark and Vice Mayor Vasquez I I have thought all along that that the result of this election would have been the overwhelming
majority of people would have been right there in the middle and I think that's where I think I think where even we are here as a commission. We don't want to we don't want to let let it run wild, but we but I think there's very few people in this community that don't want
to budge off this heighten density. And I think this is what would have gotten us that point. So, I do think even though we argue passionately with with each other, I think we're a lot closer and I had hoped that this survey would tell us that we are a lot closer than we
than than than we come across uh talking about this. And I was going to say something similar to what uh Commissioner Clark said is that you can't you you won't be able to vote on this on November 3rd as I had hoped, but but you can vote in March. >> Absolutely.
>> So, >> and on that note, I'm just going to say one more thing. I had to laugh when I see and constantly hear that three of us are not legitimately commissioners
because we ran an election and we didn't have an opponent. So, we automatically were in. I hear it all the time. I read it all the time when actually all five of us did not have an opponent. The two
gentlemen on the end did not have an opponent in March. So they were automatically in. And the three other three in our last election were ran ran unopposed. We >> I I ran opposed. >> Oh, that's right. You did run opposed. I
apologize. I apologize, but I do apologize for that. I I forgot about that. But yes, but my point being, no matter who runs opposed or unopposed, we all went through the legal route to
be elected. And I could not agree with you more. I am a I 100% believe in that. I believe that this is a representative government. You that's when you truly get to use your voice is at the ballot
box. I could not agree more. But please with the the constant, you know, if you're going to say that two of us, because I did forget about that, if two of us are illegitimately commissioners because we ran unopposed,
then four of us are. And that is not true. All four of us did our we would have ran an election if someone would have ran against us. But no one did. We still have to do the ethics. We still have to do everything. We're still sworn
in like everyone else. We just didn't happen to have an opponent. And that's all I wanted to say on that. Just to kind of shut I hopefully shut that down. >> Okay. So, uh I don't know that we actually have a motion or anything. So,
I I think there's been a discussion. Um I I will give the opportunity for to folks to say theirs uh on the binding referendum what they feel and uh and then we can move on to the final uh as
we move. So, um, West Evans, Isa Palms. Um, I just want to point out that this whole thing, uh, with the non-binding referendum, it was asked by Ardan, I guess, four weeks ago, for it to be looked into to see if it was a possibility. Sounds like he had
discussions with the attorney and that's why it was going to be brought forward tonight as uh a vote to have it put out there uh on on the ballot in November. Um the attorney came back said it couldn't be done. That's that. Two weeks
ago when he discussed it, there was silence over here. I believe someone up here is remembering it wrong. uh apparently they were cheerleading against it silently in their head uh but remembers that they were saying no this is illegal it's going to cost us millions of dollars and that's not what
happened at all simply asked if we could look into this to see if there's somehow uh some way to get a the real feel of our community what they really want the attorney even said
there's other ways we can do it we can do polls we can do whatever So, why aren't we discussing that right now instead of cheerleading for ourselves? This is ridiculous. It's ridiculous that we have a vice mayor that just called our our town disgusting. You go down the beach, there's plenty of
small businesses open along this beach. In fact, there's only a few that are closed. You say that it's not feasible for people to build in this town. Yet the same people that you're cheerleading for to get the PDS for in this town just announced that they're building within
the guidelines in Readington Beach because Readington wouldn't budge. They said they're going to build something beautiful within their code. They can't do that here. Somehow across this bridge, it's there's some kind of magic force that means you have to get special
treatment over here to get something done. It's not feasible over here, but it is in Readington where the property is actually more expensive. It's incredible that any elected official
would cheerlead that a non-binding referendum isn't can't be put on a ballot when they should that what you should be saying is it's a shame that that can't be put on a ballot because we should always be trying to find out
looking to see what the residents want, what your constituents want. It's a shame that it's worked out this way. Unfortunately, it can't be put on the ballot. You should be begging to know what the residents really want.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, West Gary Smith. >> Gary Smith. First, I want to say that uh they did run opposed the first time they got up here. And when we had them for
six months or whatever, everyone knew that they wanted them back. So, they voted the next time they had to come up for election, you're right, nobody was going to even try to run against them because they're very good commissioners. So, they did have to run against somebody. Um, I also wanted to say that
uh I was really impressed with this the man who came up and spoke. Um, I love the uh public awareness campaign and he's going to he had lots of ideas up there about uh community survey open
meeting with info taking info from the uh community um community visioning I can't even open house uh drafting plan with community uh input and I just want
to know could we not put something in there with them to find out how the residents feel. Maybe at some point during one of their open houses, I I attended one at St. Pete Beach and they had all kinds of places and I did we did
one here with um Stacy where residents could put just sticky notes on where pictures that they liked or uh suggestions that they liked. I thought that was a great idea and I really think that um so I was going to say that at
about midnight last night, Vice Mayor Vasquez stated on Facebook, the legal opinion specifically notes that there are many lawful ways to gather public feedback. She went through them. So now we all know it's legal to hold a
workshop, a town hall, whatever on the PD ordinance. And we also know it's legal to hold these things before you vote on this ordinance. If you truly care about what the residents want the PDS restricted to, you will table the vote for now and hold it after a
workshop or a town hall. And as there are only nine commission meetings left before qualifying for the next election, it seems anyone who wants to be sitting on this deis next March will be using each meeting to prove the true commitment to the residents.
any excuse will be considered just that because we know now that holding a town hall or whatever we decide to do before the PD ordinance vote is legal. You might think we will forget by March, but we won't. The recordings of these
meetings will be available long after the election will have come and gone. Thank you. >> Thank you, Derry. Grant Smith. Good evening, Grant Smith, Sunset Beach. Um, I'm just want to make sure it's okay for me to speak. I want to ask my wife's
permission. Is it okay for me to go ahead and speak? Just just so we're clear on that. Um, accusing Ardan of not doing his homework is ironic. I mean, I've been a professor for about 15 years, and Ardan's the kind of student I hate because I have to be fully prepared when he walks into class
because I know he's typically going to have more information than I do. So, I just thought that was ironic. A gentle reminder, um the Treasure Island organizational chart, which I've shared with you on a couple of occasions, establishes a clear hierarchy in the
organization and management. And that is the legitimacy of this board is derived from the residents. That's where it sits. The residents sit above this commission. That's where you get your legitimacy. As such, input from residents is of a
paramount concern. It's the highest level of evidence you should be seeking in policym. Speaking of policym, I don't want to lecture, but it should be a function of decision and implementation sciences. Specifically, the use of evidence-based practices. And what I
mean by that is the amount in the quality of evidence should be a function of the cost of a wrong decision. So for instance, if you're considering a policy that's permitting construction which allows building and access of current codes, whether it's heightened density
or whatnot, you should have compelling, really good evidence. The master planner gave us some insight into the type of evidence that they would be putting forth. And this is what I think many of the residents have asked for in terms of our developmental future is that we have
good evidence to help guide us. So, I think we're on the right path, which makes any ordinance regarding development prior to receiving that information seems a little premature to me because what evidence do we have today that's deriving ordinances and decisions regarding development? We have
developer claims that our current codes don't allow their work to pencil out. That's the extent. They don't pencil out. No proforma, no forecast, nothing shared with the public. They don't pencil out. That's
the first. Second, there's nothing being built is the other thing we hear. Yet, if you walk up and down the beach, the majority of these hotels have been uh reconstructed. They're open. They're operating for business. They're working. They're back in business. The majority
of the hotels. There's a few eyes that seem to be the subject of much controversy that really need some type of intervention to clean them up at this point. But the majority of these businesses up and down the beach, they swept it out, they cleaned them up, and they're back in business. So nothing
being built needs to be rejected. The third evidence is, hey, all the other cities have them. We should. Yeah, all the other cities have them, but many of these cities have a really, really sophisticated group of planning uh professionals internal to their city. We
don't have that. When I watch the groups that come in with the developers, the attorneys that drive from Tampa, the professional planners that come from Orlando, that come here costing these poor uh developer folks hundreds of dollars an hour. I'm sure I can't help
but think that when we're evaluating proposals that we have a knife in a gunfight. We're not equipped to deal with the professionals that we're going to be negotiating with. Finally, the other the final piece of evidence regarding this plan development
ordinance is one that was suggested supposedly by the master planner. I heard tonight that there's an assumption there that's that's in conjunction with the evidence they're going to be gathering regarding feasibility,
regarding resident input, regarding infrastructure impact. That's how you develop the plan. How do you put the guidelines into a plan development ordinance without this information? Again, the four pieces of information we're considering for this ordinance are
developer claims without any evidence. Two, nothing's being built. Three, all the other cities have them. And four, it was suggested this be done by the master planner when we have the information. What are we missing? What evidence are
you missing? You're missing input from the residents, formal input from the residents. And think about the hierarchy. You get your legitimate, you get your legitimacy from the residents. It's the most important piece of evidence you have.
Commissioner Vasquez basically said, "I don't care if it's 8020. They're not going to build." Well, then don't build. >> Land values are dynamic. They're fluid. The land values will drop. somebody else will step in, buy them, and then they'll build the free market. Welcome to it.
Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mark Hoey. Mark Hoey, >> I resend my card. >> Thank you, Sarah Pennington. >> Hi, Sarah Pennington. Isa Palms. Those
were excellent points by Grant Smith. And I hate to have to follow him because I'm just going to wing it. And I really just wanted to mention something that I thought was extremely clear going into tonight. And that Commissioner Dicki was not trying to put a non-binding
resolution on to the or referendum onto the ballot and cost the city millions of dollars. That's not what was happening. So I don't even know why that was mentioned because that was not the process. We were simply wanting to have
a conversation from what I gathered about non-binding referendums. And I wanted to say I appreciate Commissioner Dicki, also Commissioner Clark, that you do show a strong interest in hearing what the residents have to say. I wish I
could say that I felt that way about the rest of the commission. And I think that's really the core problem that we're experiencing in our town. So, thank you to you both for that. And I appreciate you looking for solutions. It's very clear who's looking for solutions on um hearing the residents
and it's very clear on who is not looking for solutions on hearing the residents. Thank you. Oh, sorry, one more thing I forgot to mention. Um I also wanted to say that if we thought it was very wasteful and not smart to
consider a non-binding referendum before the master plan, why does that same logic not apply to the PDS? We're also looking at trying to put on PDS before the master plan. Why aren't we, excuse me, why aren't we just waiting for all
of that information from Raph Telus to inform us on what we need to do, including the resident input? Thank you, >> Maria Barbara. Um good I have to say good leadership means having a clear vision forward I
understand but also a clear vision uniting and and uniting opposing views. So this is something that should be cons highly considered here in in a small town like this. So collaboration between the residents and developers is
important here and maybe with these kind of um tools that we have and I I'm very impressed by the uh master planner here um that we can encourage support for modest increases maybe perhaps because
we did include that in downtown uh Treasure Island Pirate Square when they had no density at the time when they there was um legal impact the opposite way if you did not follow the charter.
Our city charter, we are one of the only uh cities, municipalities across Florida that has a mandate in our city charter that states that the initiative, the citizens initiative referendum ordinance
that was put in place in 2002 by referendum, by petition. That means that we had to go get petition in order to do this because the commission board at the time did the opposite. So we went and got a petition and did it by Florida
statutes and that's how it got and so we we got the vote there by 2005. We we asked to put on referendum uh to see uh the this the charter uh changes that and our city charter mandates that
we go to referendum on anything that has any ordinance that has been passed by citizens initiative and we only have one the height and density of 2002. So it seems simple to some of us. um the legality the legal issue
um and the challenge you probably the city will probably have to face anyway and it's in the Florida statutes and other areas that I have read about but the 163.3167 that we're talking about on the initiative referendum does state does uh
uh contradict itself. So there's a constitutionality problem right there within that statute itself because it says, "Oh yeah, if you've had this language in your charter before June 11th, uh I mean June of 2011
because other towns were trying to do the same thing we did. It wasn't allowed. That's why that was put and then they went on and added something that contradicted that. So that's where the constitutionality and the legal challenge will occur. Um, I hate to hear
about, you know, this non-binding also that we can't have that. We've done this before. We've had a survey before. It wasn't on the LDRs. I think it was like on Alcohol on the Beach or something where they took this survey. We called it a survey back then. So, um, this was
not, you know, which was 2000, I think. Um but this is not you know the constitutionality of telling of of a of uh suppressing our first amendment rights to get a citizen's poll is also
can be legally challenged right and right now uh 1,000 friends another group of in in Florida has I think 61 entities municipalities challenging the state so even though you say this is going to
cost us a lot of money if we go against and contradict what the state is saying at this time. And that's why, you know, I I I don't understand all all of this what they're doing because they have so many challenges right now and so many lawsuits. This can hold up your
developer friends as well. If you get a legal challenge to the city, we prefer not to do that. We prefer have to have strong leadership uniting and collaborating with the residents and the developers. I've asked for data on what is it going to take to have all hotel
zones, all motel zones, all commercial general activity centers as they look at Pirate Square. And the county also looks at uh Kingfish that same way. And I think they're going to be looking at um across the street from Caddy's there where uh uh Caddy's owner uh owns all
that property as an activity center. So you have the mixed usees and that's where you have the units. All of a sudden you have new units, you have new density, blah blah blah. If we had better collaboration with the residents and the developers, maybe we can maybe
perhaps I don't know. I don't I'm not there, you know, but I don't speak for other people. And the majority of the people might get on board with some of these slight slight increases. But when you start shooting back at us that all these zones of all of the beach zones of hotels, all of all the motel, we're
going to have 200% increases. That's when we go, "No, we don't want another Clear Water Beach." Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mary Ellen. >> Hi, I'm Mary Ellen Huer. It should be said Hoyer, but nobody does.
And I have a request. Um, everybody uses a is it called an acronym like when you say PD instead of plan development. Could we get something someplace like
these two things are the same? Maybe on the second screen could put a list of the acronyms and what they really stand for. Thank you. >> Thank you, Barb Adams.
>> I'm going to make this quick, too, but I just wanted to kind of follow up on something that Grant mentioned and um especially when we're talking about commercial properties and profitability and how nobody can build anything or make any money anymore around here. Um,
and I want to just point out the good citizen good citizens that a few of the businesses have been in our community like the Bill Mahar. They were in a similar situation. They were damaged
just like all the other hotels. And how fast did they have sloppy joe's up and and working? It was the first like restaurant, first meal I had after, you know, evacuating and all that that I could eat on Treasure Island. And then
they also, as they were building and redoing all the rooms below, they took evacuees in from FEMA. And I was one of them. I lived there for four months and was able to come back and forth and work
on my home. Um because they went to work for the community. They rebuilt they made their place available and then they opened their doors to the to the residents here and
also gave us discounts at the at at Sloppy Joe's. Now that's a good citizen and a good business and that's why can't you know if they can do it and then look at Ricky Te's okay Ricky Te's was
destroyed um the owner lives in my neighborhood he was living in a trailer in front of his house because he didn't have the money to work on his house because he was putting it all back into the community
to help bring business back and to help support the residents. You can do it if you want to. It just depends on do, you know, do you want to or not. And I think we should look at some of these
businesses that showed us what good citizens and and neighbors you can be. >> John Peterson. I am uh John Peterson. I I live in the aisle Capri. I'm also the vice president
of the Al Capri Civic Association. And I want to tell you that uh Tammy Vasquez comes to every one of our meetings. I'm also on the board of Sunetwan Condominiums. She comes to our meetings. We have events in a park.
She's there. Believe me, when she say she knows her residence, she knows her residence. And to sit there and say that she's running on oppos illegal, the reason she wasn't opposed is because everybody thinks she's doing a good job. And so do
I. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. Uh Richard Harris. Good evening, commissioners and mayor. Richard Harris, 374 Bay Plaza, also chairman of the planning and zoning
board. Plan development. I was uh trying to get the city of Treasure Island to adopt a plan development zoning category back in 2016. Unfortunately, back in 2016, height and density skewed the whole thing. One of our residents in
Sunset Beach said, "Oh, we're going to have sevenstory buildings on Sunset Beach." And of course we never were. But the point is if we had a referendum today where height and density was included I have no doubt that it would be about the
same result 70 to 30. The thing about plan development is it doesn't include a plan a height and density component at this point. It is a situation where you unleash the
creativity of civil engineers and architects so they can come up with a design that would make Treasure Island a little more proud than the glass boxes that we currently have. Says, "Oh, Ocean Club, great looking uh building." No, it's not. It's a horrible looking piece
of architecture. The idea behind a plan development, which I worked on a lot of them, is to create something that's going to look a lot better than what fits in a normal zoning category. You know, if we uh get feedback from our
plan uh master planner and he says, "This is what you need." Well, the people who own the land are either going to say, "Hey, I can't make these numbers work." Or maybe I can work these numbers, but I want to have a plan
development so I can make the building look good and be build something that the city can be proud of. So, that's my point of view. I hope that we at the next meeting on the 7th can move forward with an actual plan development
zoning category because that's all it is. People aren't going to come out there and start breaking ground after the July 7th vote. It's going to take a lot of work to get things done. You're going to have to go reszone your
property to plan development. You're going to have to go to a comprehensive land use plan amendment. may be small scale if your project can't meet the current city comprehensive land use plan. Maximum we
can go to is the county but each property will have to do that individually. So right now there are about half a dozen properties and I've named them before that really look bad and they just are a blight on the city. I have
heard what the Thunderbird for instance wants to do when you're sitting at the corner of Gulf Boulevard and 107th Avenue. They want to have a view corridor so you can actually see the Gulf. That's part of a plan development. Hope we can support that. Um hope we can
come get them to uh do some really nice or architecture architecture. There's a bunch of other uh hotels at least a half a dozen that need some work. Our central business district, needless to say, just doesn't exist. It really looks bad. We
just need to get to work. And uh, you know, I inventoried the number of vacant lots on Sunset Beach, for instance. And Sunset Beach took a big hit. We got 76 vacant lots. 76 houses totally torn
down. So, the city needs some help. And I think that plan, development, zoning is a way to go forward. Thanks. >> Thank you, Richard. Okay, we're going to close comment on >> I'm sorry.
>> Okay. I don't but good. Go ahead. uh Robert Bajal out of Capri. First of all, I think Mr. Harris, one of the smartest guys I know and I I respect him a lot. Um again, PD's in parallel with a master plan. I think that that that is the uh that is the uh the way to go.
That's the way the board had decided until we got a little bit offkilter. I think eventually we are going to have some high uh heightened density increases. I really I believe that. I think it's going to happen. Um, I just think we need to follow the process and the question is why are we rushing to do
this standalone PD ordinance? It should be in parallel. Mayor said that 10 times while he was interviewing the master plan and somehow we get off track. I think Mr. Harris is is is spot on and was everything he said except this is not heaven. This is not Shangola. And I
think the residents basically do not trust um our officials to to vote um uh according to to the wishes. So uh everything he said is right on. I I I totally respect what he said. Um this is unfortunately this is this is not heaven. Um back to what I wanted to say.
First of all, when uh a politician talks about only talking facts, it raises my antenner and it raises my eye and it gets my attention. when a politician talks about they're the ones who speak facts as if those of us here don't with
resumes and careers based on ethics and accomplishment. We also speak facts. And when Commissioner Dicki mentioned uh uh referendum a few weeks ago, at that time nobody had an idea about whether it was legal or not. Of course
it was legal. It makes sense. It was intuitive that it made sense. And three of you said no. Okay, without realizing at all that in fact apparently it's not allowed by Florida statutes. Okay, it's not allowed. That's fine. Other ways to
get to gauge attention. Those ways have been listed. Knock on doors. Have a meeting. Take a vote of your constituents. I live in a Capri. We don't support what my commissioner said.
Absolutely. I understand there's a lot of emotions here. We get emotions. We get emotional. Facts are facts. Question of legitimacy. All five of you, one's not here, are
legitimate. My commission is legitimate. Commissioner, Vice Mayor. Legitimate. Legitimate. Legitimate. Absolutely. Two of you were automatically elected.
That's legal. It's legitimate. Two were reelected in March unopposed. Why were you unopposed? Because your track records demonstrated expertise, integrity, and performance,
and you earned reelection. But you are all legitimate. Anybody who says that you're not, come see me and we'll have a discussion that you're legitimate. But your jobs are represent us. The rush for PD stand alone. Why are we
doing it? There's no reason to rush to do that in parallel with a master plan. And yes, the master plan will come up with areas that need increased heightened density. Absolutely. John's pass is one of them. Absolutely.
PD says a standalone parcel by parcel makes no sense without a visualization of the entire uh commercial district and resource facilities. We want a visualization. We want economic feasibility studies. Absolutely. You're right. Uh Commissioner Vasquez,
people will support increased heightened density. Follow the process. Follow the process. Our city attorney was tasked a few weeks ago with writing a legal analysis of Senate Bill 718. I want to
see it. You want to see it. We should demand it. Is it binding on Treasury Island or not? Does our pre20 apparently he has does our two pre201 charter language
uh is does that make it non-binding? I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. My my my ignorance to my my lack of of being a legal scholar tells me I think it may bill may not be binding.
But let's get that answer be before we move forward. Last point. Anybody who's an elected official who doesn't want to gauge the opinion of the constituents is wrong. Always have your pulse on the finger of the constituents. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, we're going to close public comment. Now, we have a eighth item. We had an item that was added um after after the uh H7. >> Uh thank you, mayor. I had uh some notes
and I must have left them home uh regarding this subject, but I I would like to talk about uh an email or several emails that the mayor and commissioners got from uh residents and particular residents from Key Capri. Uh
apparently one of our LPA members uh who was known to post uh controversial or sarcastic comments from time to time on on social media. uh had an exchange with one of the residents on social media and
and again I'm basing this on memory because I don't have the exact uh stuff right here with me but uh uh went back and forth and and asked uh this LPA member uh Marvin asked uh a question where do you live and the respondent
said key Capri and uh the uh Marvin's response to that would oh Key Capri that's slated for demolition can't wait to show you my plans for replacement. And don't hold me for the exact quote, but that's what I I did from memory. And
anyway, the uh this gentleman who who Marvin was exchanging uh this with on social media took this uh took exception of this, was very very upset and and wrote us several uh emails about it and and demanded Marvin's removal from uh
the LPA. Uh this particular one was uh perhaps more egregious. Uh Marvin does have a tendency to put things on. He was the one that put that vision of downtown uh uh Sunset Beach or or 107th Avenue with the with the big uh buildings on
both sides of it. Uh and I and I'm not sure why he does it. I don't know if he does it for reaction or or if he really if really that was his vision. But in this particular case, he did say a a a unit. I understand there's 150 155 people that live in this particular
unit. And uh and for somebody on the LPA, a position of authority to say that's slated for demolition uh uh could be taken different ways, but most people would have probably taken it the way Marvin intended it to be, and that's
sarcastic and and funny or whatever. But uh clearly a number of those residents didn't take it that way and and again we got the emails uh to support that. So I'm bringing this up asking uh the commission to talk about this and to uh
see if you feel that some action on our part as the board of commissioners uh is appropriate in in response to Marvin's uh uh behavior. So um the appropriate thing to do would
be to if you want to pursue this to u get consensus to schedule this for a future meeting. You would have the actual evidence the emails and then the person uh who's being um reviewed would have the opportunity to prepare for the hearing and be ready for it. I think the
person is here, but um it was just added to the agenda and there may be members of the public, some of these other people that want to come and speak, but certainly not uh comporting with due process to just schedule it and have it tonight. So, if it's something you want to do, you would do it at a at a future
meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, >> uh nothing for the public comment. It's not on the agenda. It's something that we're going to >> and >> we won't take be public comment on this right now. We can't take any action. I will have to schedule this for due
process. It's a a name a name clearing hearing is required for due process so the accused can respond to the allegations and that's just fundamental due process. Uh, I'm not arguing with your legal opinion, but I guess maybe you weren't
our city attorney then, but we had someone else that was voted off of the same board. I don't remember how long it was ago, 6 months ago, and there was no due process. They didn't get a chance to speak. We just we just voted right in then and there. I'm not saying that's what we should do now, but I'm just
saying I'm just trying to figure out what's different. >> Yep. Well, I I think that uh >> I wasn't here before, but the basic idea is if you're accused of something, you should have the ability to >> defend yourself. I agree with that. >> You need some time to put the things
together and the commissioner had mentioned emails that >> he doesn't have today that would be put in the packet. >> All right. So, I I have we have to get to a consensus. My consensus is that um I'm going to say that I'm I'm not in
favor of taking uh the the person off of the board. Um and do we have any others? >> I would just say I I would tend to agree only, you know, I think it was Do I think it was crazy? Do I think it was
irresponsible? Yes. Um, but no, I mean, I think once again, this is social media gone wild and it's unfortunate, but it happens all the time. >> So, we're not going to have a a 4, a
three one. We have a 22. Um, I'm I'm assuming that, Chris, that you uh would vote for taking him off. >> I'm not voting. >> This would just be to vote to have a hearing. get a chance to speak. Maybe he's going to get up and say, "I'm sorry. I did
something dumb." You know, I I don't know, but I think the public wants it on. So, I support the res. So, yeah, I think we should hear from them. >> Okay. Well, I think that at this point it's a a two two. So, for this >> actual piece of action that we're taking
it. It's a it's a non non non mover. >> Okay. >> Is am I am I good there? >> Correct. Yeah. You need to have consensus to go forward. So you would need a majority. >> So there is no majority. >> Two does not enough. Right.
>> Right. So all right. So well then uh that uh leads us to uh the next thing on the list which is the reports of the attorney and the city manager. Um, for the city attorney report today, I would just point out that the house and the senate did approve the
governor's bill about ad valorum taxation and um, Becky and I are putting together a memo about the impacts and I'm sure the city manager and finance director will be looking at what particular impacts we have for next year's budget should that pass. So, it goes to the voters and should it pass
the voters then we'll have impacts. Okay, >> we'll analyze those. Oh, one more thing. I think the public had asked about the impact of Senate Bill 718, which is now 16331 67 and that and whether that preempts
the city charter uh 7.07 and the LDC 68126. And that's in the agenda packet under the non-binding uh agenda memos. It's in the full agenda packets on page 196 through 199. So, you can find it there
if that person is still here. Thanks. >> All right, city manager. >> I don't have much tonight. Just a reminder, next Monday the 8th, we have a special uh called meeting with just
three items on it that reinforce our code and enforcement processes. And those will be the second readings of those three. They were 50, no public comment. So we're expecting that to be a relatively short meeting. There's no
third Tuesday meeting in the month of June. So go take your vacations, enjoy it, and July 7th, we're going to get back at it. >> Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> I will keep it short. First, I I wanted to say one thing, Grant. you and I
actually very much agree. Um, when it comes to not knowing, no, not when you said we don't know. We've never seen the pencled out. We don't know if that is true. We don't know that it's not true, which is
why I said what I said earlier. I think anything until we have the feasibility study back to where we have numbers and we have actual third-party information, I think that it is definitely premature
to make any decisions whatsoever. So, I 100% agree with you on that that we definitely don't know. We don't know. Um, and just so everyone knows, I agree with exactly what Commissioner Dicki
said that it we argue passionately, but I would say that both of us have a high respect for one another. And I never said that he would purposely put something on a ballot trying to cost the city millions of dollars. I said it
should have been investigated before it was put on the agenda, giving people hope. When I did state when it was brought up that it was not legal to put it on the referendum, I didn't just sit here. I said it. But that was never
never insinuated that Commissioner Dicki would ever do something trying to cost the city millions of dollars. Never said that. So anyway, moving forward again, I think if everybody just takes a deep breath,
we let the process work its way out. We wait for the feasibility study, the community will have their input. That's why we're doing a master plan. That is why I put the master plan on the agenda in January. And that's why I have
supported it every step of the way. every step of the way. And we are in a holding period until we get that information back. And if everybody could
take a breath and just try your best to come together, honestly, I think none of us are that far apart. I agree. We all want a beautiful city. We don't want a city of parking lots. We don't want a city of
empty lots. So, if we can all just take a breath and I know tempers get flared, all of us, myself included with that, and let the process work its way out. The
community will have input. Of course, every one of us up here wants to hear from the community. I hear from them every day, as I know everyone does. So, I just say patience and let's see what happens. Let's see what comes back. And then we take it
from there. Nobody hates this city. Nobody's working against anything. We just need to take a breath and let the process that everyone said they wanted, let it play out and let's see where it lands.
>> Commissioner Clark. >> Um, two things. Uh, I just want to remind you guys and I'll get a date out there. going to have another district 2 budget meeting uh to get my residents input on the budget. Uh we'll probably do that closer to the budget time just because uh people a lot of people are
gone in the summertime and uh I think we had 70 people last year was very helpful. Victor will be there. So I'll I'll get dates out on that with time and location. And then I my second item is just to back up what I said earlier. Um,
please go vote in March. >> Commissioner Dicki, >> uh, I wanted to talk about a a couple of things that and I'll I'll build on, uh, some of Vice Mayor Vasquez's comments regarding the, you know, the process, trust the process. Let's let's stick
with it. We all agreed to do it. And I think the only place where I would disagree with you on that is is uh we agreed that PDS were going to go along with that and we're way ahead on PDS. Uh and the PDS as it stands right now has no limitations other than the county
maximums. So that's >> that's that right. That's there's no limit. No, I'm not lying to people. Uh anyway, the uh other thing is I was disappointed in the Treasure Bay conversation. I I feel bad for those
people who have come in so many times and have said the same thing repeatedly and repeatedly. And uh I I challenge and I ask the commission, let's figure out how we can make something happen there. That's a place that doesn't get the attention. It's it's sitting there deteriorating, getting worse, and not
get getting better. let's figure out how to make something happen there that that uh that those residents deserve. Uh and the last thing I have uh just uh on Thursday uh this Thursday between 5 and 8:00 p.m. the pavilion down in Sunset
Beach is having a a grand reopening. Uh there's going to be live music. There's going to be food trucks there. Uh should be a lot of fun. Uh and and everybody's looking forward to that being open. So, I encourage you to attend that even if you're not a Sunset Beach resident.
>> Are you buying the drinks, Ardan? >> Excuse me. >> Um, what what I uh what I want to make very clear, and hopefully I've done so in the last three or four meetings, is that the most important thing you can do
between now and September 1st is get ready for the budget process. That's going to be in August. Basically, you will get to see in the budget process how everybody thinks, how the commissioners think, how we're going to uh justify the dollars that we're going
to spend and uh and the dollars that we're going to collect. But the most important thing is we are in a rebuilding phase. I I know it doesn't feel like that because everybody's arguing about what you go up and down and height and density and you
name it. But, uh, everybody's going to have their opinion, uh, up on this this commission and, uh, that you've need to be there and you need to speak up and, uh, and I think that we will be able to accomplish a lot because I think that
what's been said is that we're not all that far apart. We all want a beautiful town. We all want to have beautiful homes. We want to have the businesses, the amenities that everybody else has. It's just different ways of of getting there. You know, the master plan, okay,
they're going to be done in about 9 months. If you take a look at the PD process, it's going to be somewhere between about 8 and 12 months. So, it isn't as though we we are going at the same time. It isn't as though we're waiting for the M master plan to be
done, then we start. it needs to go and and and like I said, take a look and talk to other folks. You know, it's anywhere between 8 and 12 months that uh that's going to take to get the uh the full process uh of the
plan development. And so I I think that we're on the same page just like Mr. Bazo said, you know, that that we are really are working towards the same things. and he he thinks that that we're going to have some ideas and some people
are going to want and need higher densities and and higher heights, but but we're we're going on two paths, but we're going to finish about the same time. And uh so with that being said, um
I'm going to adjourn this meeting. Thank you for your patience tonight.