At a meeting on June 4, 2002 with representatives of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota Homebuilders, Sarasota Board of Realtors, Sarasota Commercial Builders and The Argus Foundation, the following points of consensus were reached on the 2050 Plan relative to the comments made by the Department of Community Affairs.

• Though we all feel that there are neither the incentives nor the flexibility in the 2050 Plan that we would have liked, an overlay plan that calls for a different form of development than what is presently allowed is preferable to the status quo.
• We need to support the 2050 Plan as was submitted to DCA in the method drafted that allows villages, hamlets, etc., supported by submissions of development orders and not separate comprehensive plan amendments.
• We need to recognize in this "round" of land use negotiation that the timetable has been condensed on the County by DCA to at best respond to the slate of challenges, without allowing for substantial changes to the plan.
  

The business community recognizes that there are citizen groups and individual landowners who have specific problems with the plan. However, it has been recognized that for far to long we have delayed in providing alternative forms of development to the 5 and 10 acre tracts that are leading to more and more urban sprawl, burden on infrastructure, and loss of that ephemeral concept "quality of life." Without the "optional plan" (remember that 2050 is an overlay to existing permitted land use) we will never be able to afford the land owners, who do have a desire to create a different form of development, the flexibility to proffer change. This is not the end to planning for our future land use. It is the beginning of a new enlightenment that recognizes that the consequences of doing nothing have not been beneficial. Over time, in order for the community to get the kind of development that provides for open space and protects the unique character of Sarasota, we will see greater entitlements and flexibility offered the development community once the public recognizes that real change will deliver real improvement to what we have now. In meeting together the business community recognizes that the simple moving of the urban service boundary, if tied tight with conditions and stipulations, would offer no real improvement. We have been at this for a long time. Whether or not we can agree that in its entirety the 2050 Plan is the right approach is meaningless, if we are once again left with no alternatives.

It is vitally important that we let the County Commission know our feeling that we want them to stay the course. A schedule of workshops, public hearings, and deliberations relative to the comments made by the State Department of Community Affairs appears on page 2. We encourage you to attend one of the public hearings, voice your suggestions of change to the items of particular interest to you or your property holdings, but then ask that the County Commission move forward with the 2050 Plan with the best intentions for us all.

Schedule of 2050 Meetings

June 11th - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Workshop, no public input.
June 12th - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Workshop, no public input.
June 24th - 1:30 - 9:00 PM at the County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Public hearings.
June 25th - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Venice County Office, in the Anderson Building 401 West Venice Avenue - Public hearings.
July 1st - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Deliberation.
July 10th - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Deliberation.

Don't Forget-SRQ!

The events of September 11, 2001 have greatly impacted our air transportation system, and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has felt the effects. Airport traffic for the first quarter of this year is down twelve percent. When making your business and vacation plans don't forget to check on flights out of Sarasota first. We are just seeing the completion of the extended runway and if we expect to see more flights to SRQ in the future, airlines seeking new markets would be more attracted if we could stabilize, or increase, our traffic flow. Each month of this year has seen the traffic decline decrease, so let's all do our part to use the airport as often as we can in order that we turn a negative trend into a positive.

Coupled with the traffic decline there has been a short fall in operating revenues. Due to security increases, 8 new police officers have been added at a cost of $500,000 per year, while reduced passenger traffic has pared $1.5 million from our $10 million operating budget. The management at the airport has cut 20% of staff, while expecting reimbursement from federal funds for increased security costs.

One of the areas impacting operating revenues the greatest is in short term parking revenue. With an inability to accompany or meet passengers at the gate due to new rules of security, we have seen a dramatic drop off in those using short-term parking. For the first 8 months of this fiscal year we have lost $800,000 in revenues, $100,000 per month, from this important revenue source.

Airport management expects to balance the budget this year and in 2003, in part, due to expected reimbursement from federal revenues for airport security. The airport has $23 million dollars in reserve at this time. However, as we move out to 2004 we all have to hope for a turn around in the air travel industry.

If you want further information on the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, or want to sign up for the SRQ incentive card, you can access them on line at www.srq-airport.com.