Yet Another Comprehensive Plan Change which will affect the "jewel of the county"

As many of our readers know, rampant, inconsistent development is a problem all over Florida and Manatee County is no exception. With the vote on Hometown Democracy looming, developers are frantically pushing to get every Comp Plan change they can before actual citizens have the opportunity to weigh in on these matters.

This proposed change would add to density in areas in the evacuation areas that are already close to maxed out and is inconsistent with the current Manatee County Comprehensive Plan. It is also inconsistent with the FEMA guidelines to not increase development in coastal areas.

Sadly, the very same commissioners who are crying out against BP and what the oil spill is doing to our wildlife, coast and natural habitats could care less when it means they can exploit our land in the same manner.

Adding density to Coastal Bradenton / Palma Sola area will have a negative effect on Anna Maria Island in many ways, please contact the commissioners who do not understand or choose to ignore this and tell them your thoughts.

Please see the letter after the "read more" jump:

Courageous Anonymity, How Special

Well, we warned you.

A few days ago we told you HERE to expect the inevitable “screeching” from the Recallers over the fallout from John Cagnina’s magnanimous gift to the citizens of Anna Maria. By recklessly filing a doomed ethics complaint with little or no personal knowledge of the facts, no attempt to investigate those facts and no thought whatsoever of the financial consequences of his assured failure, he placed the City at substantial risk. He and the City were both put on notice over a month ago HERE and HERE that Florida law provides for reimbursement of the costs associated with defending the ethics complaint when that complaint fails, as this one did so miserably. Neither the City nor Cagnina refuted that potential consequence nor, apparently, did they act to prevent it.

Yesterday, Commissioner Joanne Mattick characterized our warning as “condescending,” “inappropriate” and “beneath” us HERE and accused us of trying to “belittle and embarrass” Cagnina. Though we do not agree, we do respect her opinion as to our warning; after all, it’s all interpretation and she is entitled to voice her opinion; like the opinion she voiced last commission meeting on the need to address the evils of anonymity. But we reject her accusation regarding our intent to “belittle and embarrass” Cagnina as simply impossible. One cannot make a truth more truthful. And recently, Commissioner Mattick’s daughter Sandy and I had what I consider a respectful on-line exchange in the Sun’s comment section which we reported HERE. She lamented the use of rhetoric in the current debate, citing the desire of “the residents” to see it end.

And Now For The Important Stuff...Oil Spill Meeting

In midst of all the other local noise, let's take time to learn more about the environmental disaster that may be dominating our lives for years to come. Take a look at THIS FLYER for information regarding the Oil Spill meeting being organized for tomorrow, Thursday June 17th, 7 p.m. at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.

Like we continue to say, stay informed.

But We Remember When She Liked Us...

City Commissioner Joanne Mattick, in emails to City Clerk Alice Baird yesterday HERE, HERE and HERE, has suddenly taken vocal and repeated exception to blog posts finding their way to the City’s reading file, the repository where all correspondence subject to public records laws are stored. Any emails or correspondence subject to public records laws and not already on City email accounts are forwarded, or are supposed to be forwarded, to Ms. Baird at amclerk@cityofannamaria.com for safe keeping, so to speak, awaiting the next inevitable public records request to arrive on her desk.

Let’s be clear. We welcome all forms of distribution and, like the coffee stained front page section of the Bradenton Herald winding up on a conference room table after a morning meeting, if we indirectly find our way to City Hall readers, that’s okay with us. And if requested, we would gladly send posts directly to Ms. Baird, Mayor Barford, Commissioner Mattick or anyone else at 10005 Gulf Drive who is kind enough to ask. But, a post from this blog has never been sent unsolicited directly to Ms. Baird’s email address or to any other city email address to our knowledge.

"All the News We See Fit to Print"

Last week we posted THIS regarding our efforts to bring you real information from actual source documents so you can read and decide for yourself your individual positions on the issues. Too often, facts and events can be skewed and contorted before they reach you for digestion. We don't profess to have all the information out there but we do try to locate and provide as much of it to you as we can.

Look, we'll be the first to say that publishing a weekly newspaper cannot be easy. Errors are inevitable and even awkward slips happen, like the Islander today reporting that John Cagnina was unavailable for comment on the dismissal of his ethics complaint after a previously published version of the same story included an alleged quote from him. Like that tree in the woods, if he was no longer "available" for the later published version, was there ever really a quote? But stuff happens. It seems to happen with regularity around here but it happens. We move on.

Sometimes though that "stuff" calls into question other motives. Like the Sun covering a story on the recall and providing a phone number to call if one wants to sign up, like some company newsletter asking for volunteers to organize the annual picnic. Not a proud journalistic moment. And today's edition of the Islander contains a story we reported HERE last week regarding the recent foray into public records exploration by PAR's lawyer Valerie Fernandez. As we showed you HERE, her June 4, 2010 subpoena contained requests for emails tied to numerous sources, this blog and this writer included. Particularly compelling was the inclusion of email addresses of reporters for both the Islander and the Sun, an interesting and certainly newsworthy development considering the polarized PAR and recaller-friendly positions both papers have taken publicy in either editorial opinions or "news" reports.

P & Z Loses Two More

Word from City Hall today confirms that Mike Yetter, citing a "change in job responsibilities," has tendered his resignation from the Planning & Zoning Board by email to Mayor Barford this morning.

As reported by the Islander today, Frank Pytel stepped down last week from his position on the P&Z Board. Mr. Pytel gave no reason for his departure.

Thank You John Cagnina...

That distant honking you hear is not those crazy horns from the World Cup matches in South Africa. It's the inevitable screeching of Recallers whose petition was used as a template for John Cagnina's failed ethics complaint against Mr. Stoltzfus. Richard Harrison placed the city on notice a month ago (HERE) that Cagnina's complaint was ill conceived and that Florida law requires the city to reimburse Mr. Stoltzfus for the costs of his defense should he prevail. Harrison notified City Attorney Jim Dye Friday HERE and Sunday HERE that the bill is on the way.

That the ethics complaint tracked the language of the recall petition is no coincidence. And, of course, it will be trumpeted as all Mr. Stotzfus' fault that Cagnina took it upon himself to file it with no apparent independent knowledge or investigation beyond the pages of the local papers. As you can read HERE, Mr. Stoltzfus has the option of pursuing Mr. Cagnina for the expenses and in a perfect world that is exactly what should happen. But pursuing Mr. Cagnina places the city at additional risk should Cagnina, and one expects he would, bob and weave his way through the collection process. Under Florida law, the city should have third-party claims against Cagnina for the money it is forced to expend because of Cagnina's actions and it should take immediate steps to assert those claims.

So, we are sure you'll hear shouts of blame tossed at Mr. Stoltzfus. But you can thank John Cagnina.

Bill Yanger

Pass This Along! AMI Is One Sweet Beach

Anna Maria Island - June 12, 2010

After spending an otherwise glorious morning being assaulted by shots on the tube of reporters in sludge smeared hazmat suits slogging through black lapping surf while uttering unfathomable dread about the misery now facing our sister beach cities along our shared coast north and west of here, perhaps it is time to pass this along. Send it to friends and family who may be wondering whether trip to AMI is worth the dough. Tell them to show others. "Look Ma, no oil!"

AMI is one sweet beach. Come see for yourself.

There Are Thinkers Out There

While one may have issues with Carl Nudi's story in the Bradenton Herald Saturday regarding the dismissal of the ethics complaint against Mr. Sotltzfus, it is by and large balanced, if less than substantial, reporting. But the real fun is in the comments section. Take a look HERE.

Of course, there will always be detractors and contrarians who like to be contrary because they think being contrary is cool. But there are folks out there who get it.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Remember Why You're Here

Sunrise Bean Point June 12, 2010

double click to enlarge

Breaking News: FEC Dismisses Stoltzfus Ethics Complaint

The Florida Ethics Commission has summarily dismissed ethics charges filed by Holmes Beach resident John Cagnina against Anna Maria City Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus. The Commission found that the Complaint "substantively fail[ed] to indicate" a violation of Florida law.

Click HERE to view the Order and associated Press Release from Richard Harrison.

Irony Redux: Public Records Absurdity Marches On

With so much recent attention focused on recalls and recallers and reconsidering reconsiderations, one may think that PAR’s favorite marionettes Michael Barfield a/k/a Inmate #15549-075 and lawyer Valerie Fernandez are feeling a bit limp in the strings of late. After all, a search of the two local papers reveals no significant reports of sunshine law or public records stories in nearly a month. But alas, her strings apparently yanked taut by PAR, along comes THIS from Ms. Fernandez.

Much of the list of sought-after emails (on page 5) is no surprise and some are redundant requests from previous public records demands. But a few deserve mention for varying reasons.

One wonders what deep dark conspiracy PAR hopes to dig up by seeking Sgt. Turner‘s email correspondence. Is it their theory that the ludicrously labeled “Shadow Government” contained a law enforcement branch? I mean, really.

Several private citizens and entities, already the subjects of meritless public records requests, are again included and a few new ones make an appearance, yours truly and this blog included. Good luck with that one. The last time our blog entries made the cut our readership shot through the roof. Thanks, I guess.

The intrepid reporters from The Islander and The Sun made the guest list as well. I suppose PAR, er… Fernandez, has her reasons but why would they subpoena records from their own public relations department? Just asking.

And is it a surprise to anyone familiar with PAR’s tactics that exactly one week after Commissioner Woodland cast his vote to deny their 308 Pine Ave. site plan, he was added, for the first time, to PAR’s email target list. No more need be said on that one.

Finally, attorney Jeremy Anderson is included on the list. Oh, the irony in that one. Nearly two months ago, Mr. Anderson filed public records requests that sought, among others, Michael Coleman’s emails in his capacity as a de facto member the City’s Parking Safety Committee just when the Pine Avenue safety debate was nearing its frenzied tipping point. Does it surprise you that Mr. Coleman has apparently failed to produce a single email in response Mr. Anderson’s lawful demand? Nope, me either, and neither does the mute reporting from the local press on the issue.

Don’t expect production of any documents any time soon. Since the subpoena seeks private records of private citizens and entities far outside the scope of sunshine and public records laws, Mr. Harrison has already filed objections you can view HERE. The objections will be ruled on by the court sometime down the road. Until then, we wait for the marionettes’ strings to inevitably be yanked again.

All the best,

Bill Yanger