A Man Of His Convictions

By Bill Yanger

Another in a continuing series of imagined conversations over coffee at the Rod & Reel Pier. Any resemblance to persons or personalities, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental and mostly unintended.

Good morning

Is it?

Huh?

Is it a good morning?

Well…seems so. Sun’s shining, I ain’t wearin’ that ratty sweater for the first time since Halloween and the traffic is backed up only halfway down Pine.

Yeah, I guess, but…

But what?

But, just seems…I don’t know...sure, the sun’s making me squint again and I love that but don’t it feel like there’s a cloud hanging low and dark around here?

Cloud…oh, got it. Right. You mean all that email in the sunshine shi…uh…stuff with that new commissioner and the convict guy from Sarasota?

Exactly what I mean. What the hell’s going on around here?

What’s going on? Nothin’ new really. A classic Florida clash of growth or no growth, development or no development, Disney-ized towns or real towns with real people…you know. People get real serious when it comes to makin’ money. And people get just as serious when it comes to protecting their town, especially this one.

Shadow Government? Which One?

Recently a small but vocal group of people, the same people who opposed my candidacy for Anna Maria City Commissioner, have accused me of violating Sunshine Laws and called for my resignation. Their claims are baseless, false, and possibly slanderous.

So why are they lying? Because, in the words of one of my opponents, I’m “scary.”

What are they afraid of? Simply, one meeting at a time, one issue at a time, we the people are making a difference. What some call “a shadow government” others call a strong, informed, active group of like-minded citizens committed to preserving Anna Maria. Call them what you will; I represent them with pride.

Most of us knew back in November the election was going to be a watershed moment. It may sound like hyperbole, but many said it was the most important election in the history of Anna Maria.

We are now witnessing the desperate acts of “the losers.” This current controversy is not about Sunshine Laws or public records disclosure. It’s about discrediting the residents and elected officials of Anna Maria who dare to stand up to those who’ve made a mockery of our Comprehensive Plan and our Land Development Regulations and say, “Enough is enough.”

Thank you to all who have voiced your continued support.

Harry Stoltzfus

Anna Maria City Commissioner

WHO ENGAGED THIS MAN AND WHY?

The following is quoted, verbatim, from the 1999 Report to Congress on the activities and operations of the Public Integrity Section, Criminal Divison, United States Department of Justice:

United States v. Barfield, Middle District of Florida

Michael A. Barfield, a paralegal and litigation consultant, pled guilty on May 12, 1999, to five felony offences, including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury before a federal grand jury, and two separate wire fraud schemes. On October 25th, 1999, Barfield was sentenced to ten years in prison, fined $7,500 and ordered to pay $50,500 in restitution.


The conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury convictions stem from Barfield’s role in concocting a false accusation in 1997 against then - United States District Judge Lee P. Gagliardi, now deceased, and United States Attorney Kathleen A. Hayley, in an attempt to disqualify the judge from presiding over a pending criminal case. Barfield hired two private investigators Deana Scappacino and Dana Corum, to help carry out the illegal scheme. Barfield, Scappacino and Corum, falsely claimed that the Judge and the Prosecutor met at a restaurant where they discussed details of the pending prosecution and exchanged case-related documents. During the federal grand jury investigation triggered by this accusation, Barfield and his coconspirators repeatedly attempted to bolster their false accusation by providing false information to the FBI and false testimony and fabricated documents to the grand jury.


Judge Gagliardi was advised prior to his death that the Justice Department had determined that the charges against him were false.Barfield also pled guilty to two unrelated wire fraud offences that were committed and uncovered during the course of this investigation.


In late 1998 and 1999, while working for a Florida attorney, Barfield falsely represented to two convicted criminal defendants that he could secure leniency for them in exchange for substantial monetary payments. After obtaining approximately $50,000 from the defendants’ families, Barfield made preparations to flee the country. He was arrested by the FBI in January 1999 and has been incarcerated since that date.

Hometown Democracy Debate /Correction

The Hometown Democracy Debate is being held this Saturday at 10:30, the 27th, at the Holmes Beach library. This is a correction of an earlier post.

An Interesting Take on Hometown Democracy

The following is from St. Petersburg Times columnist, Howard Troxler.

A bunch of Greek guys started a political debate 2,500 years ago that we're still fighting about.

Can people govern themselves wisely by a direct vote?

Or should they put their trust in leaders to make wise decisions?

Here in Florida, we're smack in the middle of that age-old fight. This November we'll vote on the idea called "Hometown Democracy."

Beyond our city's boundaries…

Although this is an Anna Maria blog, we are part of a larger community and as such I wanted to assure you are aware of several recent actions taken by the Manatee County Commissioners.

1. This past Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners, with the exception of Commissioner McClash, approved PA-10-02 Robinson Farms. This Plan Amendment would raise the current density from 1 unit per acre to 3 units per acre on property located within the Coastal High Hazard Area and the Coastal Planning area. Our Comprehensive Plan Objective 4.3.1 limits development type, density, and intensity in the Coastal Planning Area and directs population and development to areas outside of the Coastal High Hazard and Coastal Evacuation Areas. This obviously goes against our Comprehensive Plan and should have been denied.

Manatee County has a 49 hour level of evacuation. We should not be increasing density within the Hurricane Evacuation Zones we should be reducing density.

This is the second try to increase density on this parcel. The first was in 1997 and was denied by the Department of Community Affairs because density was being increased in the Coastal High Hazard Area.

If you are so inclined please contact the following to voice your concerns and call to action:

Ray Eubanks ray.eubanks@dca.state.fl.us and copy chris.wiglesworth@dca.state.fl.us

2. Also approved by the Board of County Commissioners, with the exception of Commissioner McCash, was PSPI-09-13(Z)(P) Solar Biomass Integrated Power Plant. There has not been a needs analysis done for this project. There are unanswered questions as to how much where water will come from to operate the plant and how used water will be disposed of. There are air quality issues. Currently Manatee County doesn't monitor fine particulates. How and where will the ash be disposed of?

3. The County, again with the exception of Commissioner McClash, passed PA-10-05 Evers Reservoir Watershed Amendment. This allows the reuse of reclaimed water within a specific area of the Evers Reservoir Watershed. This is where the City of Bradenton gets its drinking water. This has been prevented in the past in order to err on the side of caution. This reuse water will meet quality standards that are now in place. What isn't in place are standards for pharmaceuticals, and chemicals such as pyrethroid insecticides. We are just learning the harmful effects of these unregulated chemicals. The long term consequences of individual chemicals and combinations of chemicals are unknown. It seems prudent to continue our current policy until we know more.

Can't You Smell That Smell?

By Bill Yanger

Another in a continuing series of imagined conversations over coffee at the Rod & Reel Pier. Any resemblance to persons or personalities, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental and mostly unintended.


Good morning

Hello hello.

What’s with the collared shirt? Didn’t know you owned one.

Don’t. Borrowed it from my neighbor.

You…uh…borrowed a shirt. What’s the occasion?

Just spiffin’ up my image. First impressions and all that stuff.
Then why don’t you buy your own shirt?

Baby steps my friend, baby steps.

Uh huh. You even combed your hair...both of them. So who you tryin’ to impress?

No one in particular…just, you know, folks I see, people I meet. My neighbors and friends here in my little town.
Our little town.

Yeah yeah, our town.
So why the sudden urge to impress folks?

Is an apology in order?

At a joint meeting of the Anna Maria City Commission and Planning & Zoning Board on March 4th, City Commissioner JoAnn Mattick publicly delivered this rebuke of our city’s Comprehensive Plan (quoting from the recorded transcription):

We need a vision for ultimately what we want to have on Pine Avenue. All of these terms we keep coming up with on the LDR’s [Land Development Regulations] and Comp Plan  …  is a boilerplate that got dropped in by Tony Arrant that not one person commented on. I mean I participated in all the meetings when we were looking at the Comp Plan review. I don’t think anybody really understood what some of those things were. If they did, they weren’t concerned about it. I think we need to make decisions based on what we want to ultimately see on Pine Avenue. If it means rewriting the LDR’s and the Comp Plan, that’s what we should do to get the final vision of what we want...

This castigation is remarkable, to say the least, especially from an elected official who took part in the process.

The Future of Pine Avenue? Really?

Commission Meeting Tonight March 11, 2010, 6 PM on Temporary Moratorium

Tonight at 6 p.m., the City Commission will be holding a Special Meeting on the following agenda item:

Temporary Moratorium on Development Permits for Commercial Development and Re-development, including mixed use, in the ROR District; Providing for a Time Frame in Which to Review and Update Specific Language of Chapter 90.

This is an important issue in our City today. Residents who care about how our commercial streets of Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive are developed should attend.

HE STOOD UP FOR ALL OF US, NOW WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR HIM

I think many us have read with dismay the letter from Michael Barfield addressed to Commissioner Stoltzfus and P & Z board member Jim Connolly. Dismay that the witch hunt aimed primarily at Commissioner Stoltzfus could have reached such a low.
I hardly knew Harry and Cathy Stoltzfus before he decided to run for Commissioner. Sure we had occasionally passed the time of day at a baseball match at the Community Center when our kids were playing but I did not really ‘know’ them. The fact that someone had even stepped up to run I think had all our attention. Finally here was someone who was offering to be a voice for the residents of the City.
It sometimes feels like a lifetime has passed since November and not just a few months. In that time I have learned that the Stoltzfus’s are not just good people with a passion for their City but great people who are determined to follow through on the promise they made to the residents despite the personal cost to them.

Seeing Is Believing

By Bill Yanger

Another in a continuing series of imagined conversations, some short some extended, over coffee at the Rod & Reel Pier. Any resemblance to persons or personalities, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental and mostly unintended.

Good Morning…

Hey.
Well well, if it isn’t Mr. Mysterious.

Huh?

Had some big secret the other day, remember? Skipped coffee then had to grab your blackened Mahi to go.

Oh, yeah. No biggie.

No biggie…right…What’s the deal?

Not sure I wanna tell you yet.

Oh, give me a break you prima donna…gonna make me beg?

Don’t beg. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.

Whatever.

Anyway, you know anyone who can tow my house?

You mean your boat?

No. My house, mi casa, the place I eat, sleep and watch Dancing With The Stars.

Tow, as in put it on a trailer and move it?

What The Heck Is a Comp Plan and Why Should I Care?

A number of folks have expressed concerns that even with the amount of information (and misinformation) flying around from various sources, they still have a basic lack of understanding of the mechanics of state and local government as it relates to commercial development here in the City of Anna Maria. As a result they also have a basic lack of understanding as to why all of the recent noise in and around City Hall lately is necessary.

So below we have put together a short primer on the issues . As I have said before, I am not a land use attorney and I frankly have learned a great deal myself putting this piece together. The following is purely informational and should not be considered legal advice or a legal opinion. A special thanks and a bit of attribution goes to 1000 Friends of Florida for their treasure trove of information available to any interested citizen by clicking HERE. Also, as you read you can click on any of the highlighted underlined links for additional information on that issue. With no further ado, please click this link and read on...

On dovetailing with the community

This is the text of an email sent to our commissioners by Alistair McLeish, today (March 2). When he granted me permission to post it here, he added, "I don’t want to be partisan...and would want this to be as much directed at the forces for change as those defending it." Amen! (Due to its length, when you get to the "read more", click on it for the remainder of the piece.)

Dear Fellow residents,

There has been much made recently of changes in Anna Maria city.

Please may I  list why we fell in love with this wonderful Island and specifically AMC,  fourteen years ago and  why we so much appreciate the ambience and lifestyle prevailing there.

·         Its beauty and serenity

·         Its community and lifestyle

·         Its access to nearby  facilities and yet  their relative absence and consequent disruption  within this rather special city environment.

We have read with much interest the plethora of  comments from all sides over the last year. On the one hand we all have to accept that things change and nothing can remain static. However in the argument between commercial and residential it seems to us that one thing is very  clear. Historically Anna Maria city has not been a primarily commercially orientated locale and any commerce there has been to serve the interests  of the local community. It is also clear that  throughout the world there is renewed interest in understanding  how  the demographics   of communities  work and that to ensure their continued vigour, cognisance has to be take of how to preserve habitats and lifestyles for the  majority whilst allowing  reasonable evolvement. This is true of  urban , suburban and rural localities. I am told that this is now  the biggest area of research in understanding  land use planning and how communities work,  self regenerate and prosper.

Sidewalk Lunacy

February 27, 2010

In November, I suggested the City of Anna Maria had mistakenly approved site plans in the Residential/Office/Retail (ROR), based on this language in our Comp Plan: “. . . the City’s traffic circulation system shall emphasize safety and aesthetics . . . , separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic . . . , minimize direct access onto major roads”, and accommodate “bicycle and pedestrian traffic needs.” I maintained requiring vehicles to drive across the sidewalk to park, and then back out, sometimes blindly, through pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic to re-enter the roadway, did not meet the above standards, and was inherently unsafe.

My assertions were labeled “monkey wrench” issues. Opponents said we’ve never had a fatality on Pine Avenue, so there is no safety issue. Some said “changing the rules in the middle of the game” was a taking of developer property rights.

My contention was then, and is now; the rules are already in place. They’ve simply not been consistently applied.

From our Land Development Regulations (LDR): “All off-street parking areas, including all areas for maneuvering, shall be located solely on the subject property, shall not use public rights-of-way, . . . and shall be designed to provide safe and convenient circulation.” “Maneuver”, when describing a vehicle, means “steer”.

Restated, every developed lot shall have a driveway; vehicles must enter the subject property to park.

Those who cried “you can’t change the rules” have now proposed the biggest parking rule change in the history of Anna Maria. They’ve asked the City to cede the City-owned right-of-way for parking and allow property owners to determine where to position the sidewalk. Instead of lining Pine Avenue with trees, they wish to line it with cars. It screams “Commercial District!”

It’s a half-access solution. Vehicles will still back into bicycle and vehicle traffic. Property owners will still need driveways to accommodate loading zones. And our sidewalks will weave back and forth the length of Pine, sometimes in the city right-of-way, sometimes on private property, depending on whether or not the owner volunteers to move the sidewalk.

At issue: what do we want the Anna Maria of our future to look like? Do we change the LDR and the Comp Plan to accommodate the wishes of a few, thereby allowing larger buildings and greater commercial intensity in our ROR? Or do we clarify the existing language in the LDR, carrying out our Comp Plan’s goals which are: “to protect the single family residential character of the City within the Residential/Office/Retail Land Use Category, . . . preserve the unique, historic cottage type housing . . .” and “encourage property owners to build less than the maximum size buildings.”

If you care about the outcome of this discussion, you should go to City Hall Thursday, March 4, at 6:00 for the Joint Session of P&Z and the Commission and voice your opinion. Or email the City for city-wide distribution: amclerk@cityofannamaria.com

Thanks for listening.

Harry Stoltzfus

Anna Maria City Commissioner