'NACA'
NOKOMIS AREA CIVIC ASSOCIATION
NOKOMIS, FLORIDA
"Providing
leadership and an organized voice to improve the quality of life in the Nokomis
area of Sarasota County."
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'NACA' |
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Newsletter
of the Nokomis Area Civic Association
Vol. 10,
No. 3, June 2005 Next
NACA General Meeting Tuesday,
July 19, 7 pm, Nokomis Community Center All Are
Welcome! Bring Your Friends and
Neighbors! "Susan
Gregory, SCOPE Revitalization & Infill" "Henry
Rodriguez, Osprey Revitalization & Infill" "Updating
Our Vision For Nokomis Development" Our expert speakers this evening will address the vital
topics of "Revitalization" of existing development and
"Infill" of vacant properties in our local area.
We invite you to participate in a group brainstorming effort about the
commercial development we want and don't want. PRESIDENT'S
CORNER John
Ask, NACA President NOKOMIS
VISION DEVELOPMENT
A lot is happening in Nokomis these days, and your NACA is actively
engaged with purpose to assist in insuring that our community continues to be a
wonderful place to live and work. Please
consider attending our July 19 meeting, where we will address revitalization and
development infill along our commercial corridor on Tamiami Trail.
First on the agenda will be a SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans For
Excellence) presentation on revitalization and infill.
Their findings are based on a year‑long study throughout the
county.
Second, NACA member Henry Rodriguez, a local entrepreneur, will present
on infill development and revitalization from the businessman's perspective.
We're asking Henry to include addressing our Nokomis corridor with his
experience and expertise.
Finally, I'll lead a whole-group brainstorming session in the creation of
two lists:
1. Specific types of businesses and development that we'd like to see
come to Nokomis on our vacant and rehab parcels;
2. Specific types of businesses and development we do NOT want to see
coming to these same Nokomis parcels.
The ultimate goal is an updated vision of what we, Nokomis residents,
ideally want our commercial corridor to look like when developed.
In my view, development will come quickly upon the completion of our
Route 41 road‑widening project and, with all of the development occurring
to our immediate north in Osprey, we need to be prepared and proactive when
presented with proposals.
The next step of our vision development will be a presentation of our
results to the Nokomis Revitalization Committee (created and supported by the
Board of County Commissioners) on July 27th, 6:30 p.m., at our Community Center
located off Colonia Lane at 234 Nippino Trail.
At this meeting, the Revitalization Committee will determine what they
would like to see happen next.
I do believe that a community vision is dynamic (vs. static), and we
should monitor and adjust as conditions change with time.
Hopefully, Nokomis will attract entrepreneurs and developers who are
community minded and will collaborate with NACA and Nokomis residents in
creating quality and needed development along our corridor.
We are further hopeful that they will appreciate having the products from
our efforts to help guide their decision-making on development proposals
throughout the Nokomis Commercial Corridor.
Please consider attending this important NACA meeting on Tuesday, July
19th, and bring a neighbor, too! NEIGHBORHOOD
GRANTS: $12,000 POSSIBLE
Sarasota County has an ongoing program intended to engage residents to
become actively involved in bettering their neighborhoods, providing grants for
doing so. Broad criteria associated
with preserving and enhancing the quality of life, promoting safety, and
preserving value and character may qualify a neighborhood for a grant.
Upcoming workshops on these grants are scheduled as follows:
• Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m., North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trail,
North Port
• Monday, July 18, 2 p.m., County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling
Blvd., Sarasota
Due to limited space, reservations are required for the workshops.
The deadline for submitting grant applications is Aug. 15.
For more information, contact Rochelle Brassard, Neighborhood Grant
Coordinator, at 941-861-5000 or rbrassar@scgov.net. YOU
WON'T WANT TO MISS SUZANNE GREGORY ON "REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL" Don
Lewis, NACA County Government Liaison
SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans For Excellence) Associate Director
Suzanne Gregory has been invited to the NACA meeting on Tuesday, July 19th, to
present SCOPE's community study "Community Change: Redevelopment and
Infill," published in 2004.
"Redevelopment" is the revitalization of existing properties
through the renovation or replacement of structures or use of the property.
"Infill" is the development of vacant
"skipped‑over" lands in an urban or suburban area.
The presentation will include an overview of the study and the short film
Faces of Places.
SCOPE presentations are always fascinating, and you will be particularly
interested in this film, as it is a local look at some of the issues surrounding
redevelopment and infill, with specific references to the Nokomis Revitalization
Program.
See you on July 19th! HURRICANE
CHARLEY RELIEF FUND UPDATE Don
Lewis, NACA County Government Liaison
Thirteen homeowner associations joined with NACA to help the hurricane
victims south of us, as reported in the April Voice
of Nokomis. A total of $3,500
was sent to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation (SWFCF) located in Ft.
Myers, through Bob Vedder, publisher of the Venice
Gondolier Sun, who is a friend of Paul Flynn, President and CEO of the SWFCF.
In mid-April, I received a letter from Paul Flynn, thanking us for our
contributions. He writes:
"Wonderful efforts such as those by NACA and through NACA thirteen
homeowner associations are very gratifying to those of us who are trying to help
on a daily basis. We have given away more than $1.8 million through funds like
the Venice Gondolier Sun Newspaper Fund, through which your generous
contributions were sent to us."
Paul's closing comment was "Thank you for your wonderful generosity.
Please let your members know that their donations were immediately
applied to our relief efforts."
The thirteen HOA's which contributed should feel very good about
themselves for helping those in dire need.
As Paul Flynn states in his letter: "It will be a long time before
all of the needs are filled."
If any HOA which has not contributed would like to send Paul Flynn and
the SWFCF a few hundred dollars, phone or e-mail me at 485-6737 or dlew616@aol.com
and I'll give you the address. It's
a surefire way of being sure that your ENTIRE contribution is going DIRECTLY to
those in need.
Many thanks and regards to all, Don. CURRENT
STATUS: WIDENING US 41, RAISING THE BRIDGES, AND THE RAILROAD TRESTLE ISSUES Don
Lewis, NACA County Government Liaison
The widening of US 41 to six lanes was put out for bid on June 13th and
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) estimates work will start in
October/November of this year and be completed by October/November of 2007.
The new six-lane Dona Bay Bridge will be raised to about 12 feet, nearly
double the height of the existing bridge, and the new six‑lane Shakett
Creek Bridge will also be raised an additional 2.5 feet from its current height,
using a new FDOT design allowing this increase in vertical height with no other
changes necessary.
The issue of raising the railroad trestles has hit a snag.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has informed Sarasota County (Jim Ley, County
Administrator) that they must raise the trestles for safety and navigational
purposes. If the County refuses to
do so, the USCG will be forced to implement an order which they claim will force
the County to raise the trestles.
The County has informed them they will fight back.
The USCG intends to send out a 30‑day notice for a public hearing,
which will last as long as necessary to hear from all those who wish to speak.
NACA believes this "Raise the Trestles" issue will take months
to resolve. I will update you on
the status in the next
Voice of Nokomis.
At stake here is a possible significant delay in the Rails to Trails
project that has been in the planning stage for years. WATERWAYS
REPORT Patrick
McCarthy, NACA Waterways A TALE
OF TWO BRIDGES (PART 2)
On the heels of the US 41 Bridge fiasco comes the Great Rails to Trails
Bridge Debate. Various groups have
been lobbying their concerns to the government agencies involved.
At the time of this writing, it seems that a showdown between the US
Coast Guard and Sarasota County looms large on the horizon.
Don't miss our July meeting for the latest update on this situation.
Already this year we have had several large rain events.
Boating can be hazardous under these conditions of high water flow.
Large tree branches and other debris can float just below the water's
surface and cause damage to your boat's hull or drive unit.
Navigating the bridges can be a challenge under these conditions.
Keep in mind that to maintain steering control, you must be moving faster
than the water. If in doubt, don't
go out.
Due in part I'm sure to the much-publicized lack of law enforcement east
of US 41 on Shakett Creek, some local(? jetskiers and boaters are violating the
slow-speed/minimum‑wake zones on a regular basis.
All of Shakett Creek and Dona Bay is a manatee zone.
In spite of what a real-estate ad may say, it is at least a 45 minute
cruise from the Laurel Road Bridge to the Intracoastal Waterway at legal speed.
Like they say on that daytime talk show: "Take a little time to
enjoy the View."
Be Safe, and I'll see you on the water. NOKOMIS
REVITALIZATION NEWS Bruce
Dillon, NACA Revitalization Officer & Nokomis Revitalization Committee
Chair, bkdillon@verizon.net WORKER
SAFETY DURING THE REVITALIZATION CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Relocation of utility lines has begun in anticipation of the widening of
US 41. Colonia Lane improvements
should begin later this year. There
will be barricades flashing, flag men, and lane closures frequently moving
traffic off the ordinary path.
Workers, protected mostly by orange signs, florescent vests, and hardhats
will be depending on the motoring public to bring a large dose of common sense
and patience along on every ride through the construction zones.
Their spouses, their parents, and their kids will also be depending on
every traveler to slow down, pay attention, and remain calm during the delays
that will surely occur. Plan a bit of extra time for your trips.
See if there is an alternate route.
Check the newspaper for news of planned closures.
Everybody has a role in safety.
Do your part to ensure that everyone makes it safely home every day. WATER
UPDATE
A recent newspaper article may have contributed to confusion over the
timeline for extension of central water service into greater Nokomis.
County utility planners have once again confirmed to me that construction
of the system continues to be on track for 2006. BRINGING
THE FUTURE INTO FOCUS
The month of July will offer two opportunities for Nokomis residents to
offer ideas toward their vision of Nokomis in the next decade.
The first is the NACA quarterly meeting July 19 at 7:00 pm. Following presentations by SCOPE and member Henry Rodriguez
on infill and revitalization, John Ask will lead an exercise to compile the
community's goals for our commercial corridor.
The following week, John will present the results from the NACA session
and accept further input at the Revitalization Advisory Committee meeting
Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 pm.
Both meetings will be held at the Nokomis Community Center, located off
Colonia Lane at 234 Nippino Trail. Please
join us to help bring the future of Nokomis into focus. WHY
MEMBERSHIP? Tom
Bartholomay, NACA Secretary & Membership Chair
My challenge is to encourage Nokomis residents to join NACA.
To do this our present members must be asked to help get new members.
Do you enjoy public water in your home?
Well, about 25% of Nokomis residents are expecting to get County water in
2006 because NACA has worked to get it done.
Albee Rd. to the beach is completed, and Colonia Ln. will be improved
with bike lanes and walking sidewalks as a result of NACA's efforts.
Looking to the future, further progress and success in Nokomis will be
closely tied to the "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS" of NACA membership.
You can help by keeping this copy of the Voice
of Nokomis at hand and asking a friend or neighbor to join.
The membership application is below and dues are only $5 a year, which
includes this newsletter. This is
NACA's only solicitation. Please
help us reach our goal of 2000 by year end.
THANKS! COUNTY
COMMISSIONER NORA PATTERSON SPOKE AT NACA'S LAST GENERAL MEETING
The featured speaker at our last NACA General Meeting on April 19 was
Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson.
Here are a few highlights:
Nora lives in the north part of the County, but is strongly committed to
all of its citizens. She said that Sarasota County residents care a lot about
their community and in the last 7‑8 years have been real activists.
The County has put a lot on its plate, "in some cases trying to make
up for sins in the past."
Financially, the County is in good shape.
One reason is that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is
conservative in its use of public funds. County
Administrator Jim Ley has used innovative techniques to solve problems and been
extremely conservative in using staffing. Another
reason is a rising tax base, which is not just driven by non-homesteader tax
bills. [As
most of our readers know, homeowners qualifying for homestead exemption are
protected by a modest annual‑percentage cap on the increase of assessable
value of their properties, whereas owners of second and third homes or
investment properties must pay tax on the current market value, which, as we all
know, is, in many cases, skyrocketing.]
However, we cannot expect our property tax revenue to keep jumping up
forever. Plus there's a lot going
on locally that's not under our control; e.g., state government mandates.
In April, the State legislature was in session.
Nora's husband comes from a time when "Nothing is safe when the
state legislature is in session." There
is a real lack of communication between the state legislature, citizens, and
local governments. A bunch of bills
have cropped up that will make it difficult for County government to serve you,
such as impact fees. They are
dollars that we charge on the building of new homes, stores, etc., so that
growth can pay for its share of infrastructure increase (roads, libraries,
parks, schools) and capacity fees (for sewer and water facilities); every time
you add a property, it's not just the pipes, but the additional demand on the
general services.
The State bill that is giving all of the BCC a fit would govern how
counties can levy fees. The bill has NOT been devised in consultation with local
governments. It will cost Sarasota
County about $6 million per year. Simultaneously,
the Governor and some legislators are working on an initiative to "manage
growth." That bill is 60 some
pages long. Most of the things in
the bill Sarasota County has been doing anyway.
Then suddenly, the BCC hears the whole thing is scrapped, and a new bill
is on the table that local governments haven't seen.
The old switcheroo. Another
bill will allow rural land to be developed if it meets certain standards.
The State has been trying to shift some of its expenses down to the local
level, e.g., nursing homes and the juvenile justice program; the state just
sends us a bill for $1‑2 million for juvenile justice but allows the
County no control. But the good
news is that our lobbyists tell us we may be able to manage the
juvenile‑justice program if we have to pay for it. But State issues don't just come from the legislature. They also come from the Governor and State agencies. In the last couple of years, the Dept. of Transportation took a look at the fact that the State had literally billions of dollars in shortfall. So the State took a handful of its roads, created the Strategic Intermodal System: "the ones we want to pay for." They took 50% of not only state but federal funding, which took away from the money Sarasota County was getting, leaving us with only about $9 million per year. Now the SIS is upping its grab from 50% to 75%, with the result that Sarasota County will be hard pressed to do its own roads. |
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