Wednesday, August 8, 2018
How Quickly and Inexpensively Could we #OpenOurBeach ?
I requested information from our environmental department about what it would take, in terms of time and resources, for us to #OpenOurBeach at the property we own on the Gulf of Mexico in Perdido Key. All board members will be presented the below information during tomorrow's Committee of the Whole Meeting. We can open this beach, for a lot less money and with a lot less red-tape than what many have been espousing. This is what my research is indicating....
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So what do you think of the speedy getaway?
Did you know ahead of time that Underhill was leaving the COW at the same time as May and Robinson? You said that you wanted to get through all the items "before you lost quorum" There are a lot of questions flying around.
Several of the items were dropped. Could you have reconvened at 12:30 when Commission Robinson said he could return?
I really think the commissioners should make the meetings a priority, clear their calendar attend and pay attention.
Like Barry and you do.
What happened? Did Underhill tell you ahead of time he was leaving or did he just get up and suddenly leave at his own accord at that moment?
We think he didn't want to discuss the beach item.
JUECW covered it as usual..didn't note his departure and also made it seem like the beach item was "your" item.
We want the Beach Opened with no more Delays.
This is not a Political issue, or should not be.
He wants his private beach.
This was an unexpected loss of a quorum. It was known that Grover and Lumon had commitments, but I had no idea Doug was leaving at 11:00AM as well; I assumed we would maintain a quorum with Steven, Doug, and I and that we would finish the agenda. Otherwise, I would have re-ordered some of these items as chair to insure we got to what was important (e.g. the budget discussion would have been prioritized). Because we had several important items--not the least of which was the important budget discussion. And to ask staff and guests to sit around for an unexpected, 2 hour recess--that would not have been appropriate either. It's alright though, we will bring these items back to the next meeting on Thursday and we will discuss them. I will insure we discuss these before we lose a quorum at the next meeting. I shouldn't have to do that, though. But I will...........
Thank you clearing that up.
Underhill said he was holding the access, as mouse habitat so he could allow development inland properties. That's not right.
Grover knew Doug was leaving. This mass Exodus was planned well in advance.
Commissioner Bergosh, is it customary to inform the Chair that one will have to leave early due to prior commitments? I questioned Commissioner Underhill about this on ECW and was told that my assumption that it was is not "factual". I find it hard to believe that it is not a common courtesy shown to the board and staff.
As for the question of holding this property for inland development as mentioned above, how much land would be allowed to be taken for this parcel? Or maybe more pertinent, how much land will not be able to be developed because this is opened to the public? The HCP allows for private and County development of property but it comes at a price as there is only so much development allowed on the Key overall. I find it incredible that the County spent money on the property with the original intent to open up beach access. And if I'm not mistaken allocated even more money on planning and design to the tune of 147K, yet here this parcel sits empty and blocked off to Escambia County citizens! I also wonder, where are the people from Sundowner condos are parking their chairs and towels after using there private access to the Gulf. Are they all jammed into the 10 ft. slice of property they own between the Crab Trap and the County property?? I know, being slightly facetious here, forgive me.
I'm hoping you can explain what's going on with the Perdido Key Gulf of Mexico Public Access RESTORE Project. It seems Doug Underhill wants to use this project to acquire additional beach front property. From what I've read of Treasury Dept policy this would consistute a material change to the MYIP and would require a 45 day public commitment period and re-aporoval by the Treasury Dept. It seems to me we should use that RESTORE project to open the former Sundown site up to the public.
Mike McCormack--It is not a hard and fast rule per se, that commissioners tell the chairman what they have going on later in a day; however in the nearly two years I have served on this board it is customary practice that members, at the beginning of the meeting, let the chairman know if there is a hard-stop time that they must leave. This way, items can be ordered appropriately and member priority agenda items can be moved ahead while there is a quorum. For example, Grover announced early he would be leaving and asked that discussion of the beach leases be put off. I brought that item, so I accommodated that request and dropped that item. Commissioner May requested that we move forward the Cervantes Street project, and we did that (although we never got to that important project before the meeting ended due to lack of a quorum). Doug did not inform me or announce he had an unavoidable conflict and had to leave early. He simply left when Grover and Lumon did, saying he "had to go." I believe he has since stated that he had important work to do in his district discussing sidewalk construction planning. Observers who are aware of the items that were to be discussed can draw their own conclusions about what is important juxtaposed with what is politically expedient. Thursday we will address the public beach access at Perdido Key issue again, as that was one important issue that I want to discuss. With respect to the "take" of acreage that opening this parcel will eat up--the good news here, so far as I understand it from speaking with staff, is that if we stay only within the boundaries of the former parking footprint--it will not result in any additional development "take" per the HCP. Of course I will defer to staff and this will all be discussed Thursday, but this is my understanding of this issue. And you are absolutely, 100% correct: The BCC purchased that property in 2013 for $3.1 Million in taxpayer dollars, yet nothing has been done at all with that property since, creating what I have coined as a "comfortable status quo" for some nearby residents that currently use and enjoy this property while it is neither fenced nor appropriately signed for habitat conservation (e.g. on my site visit I saw no signs telling beach goers they could not enter the dunes on this property due to the mouse habitat being off limits. To the contrary, I saw footprints and litter indicating traffic all over this property) So the comfortable status quo must end. It is not good for the beach mouse or the taxpayers that purchased this land. It is only currently good for a few locals and a few residents that enjoy this beautiful property while the vast majority of us are locked out.
Thank you for the response. I’m encouraged by your information concerning the “take” portion of my questions! Another question I have is in the construction of the walk over and any future buildings is there any specific requirements for hardware that would be cost prohibitive? My recent trip to a commercial site on the key I looked at the construction of their walkway. The only thing I saw was galvanized bolts as opposed to plain steel. I would assume galvanized hardware would be the norm for such an environment?
I am wondering from the second paragraph about the history of funding requests. What happened with that? Was it denied? Particularly the June 2016 with a project number. What happened with those funds exactly?
I do see the last line says it was move to unfunded LOST IV but what about the RESTORE project, is there money there to use. Was it received?
If Underhill arbitrarily changed the Perdido Key Access RESTORE project to one where he can buy beach front property with taxpayer money, direct staff himself to write contracts prior to board approval aren't you concerned? No lawyer here but isn't that wrong? Do you want to be a part of that? Please research this also. PNJ article May 9 and Meeting discussion May 3 plus he announced it on Facebook 8/12. Check the RESTORE ACT and the department of Treasury. Don't let him take you all down with him.
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