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Referendum sought on T.I. downtown plan
By LEE DIEKEMPER
| Article published on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 |
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TREASURE ISLAND – In an effort to accelerate a proposed downtown redevelopment plan, Treasure Island Commissioner Alan Bildz proposed the plan be finalized for a voter approval by November 2008.
Speaking before the Treasure Island City Commission workshop Sept. 20, Bildz noted that the stalled project is currently a waste of money.
In recent months, the city spent $150,000 on redeveloping the downtown area of the city to become a mixed-use area where residents lived, worked and played. The proposal is expected to completely transform the downtown area from its current makeup.
But since former City Manager Ralph Stone resigned early this year, the project has basically come to a halt. Bildz is hoping with a nudge, the downtown redevelopment proposal will hit the ballots next fall.
Bildz’s goal is simple: If the proposal is placed on the ballot next November during a presidential election year, more citizens will vote on the proposal than at any other time.
The reason why the proposal will likely have to be voted on is there will likely be a need to change the density laws.
“We can take the vote to the people,” Bildz said. “Right now the money (spent on the downtown redevelopment plan) is wasted because we have no plan. By formulating a plan, it gives people a chance to take part.”
Mayor Mary Maloof agreed that the project has been stuck in neutral and the city and its employees should focus more attention of resuscitating the proposal.
“We need to be out front with the public so they are comfortable with it and know what they are voting on,” Maloof said. “No developer will come into town without a framework.”
Commissioner Phil Collins, as he did months ago when the project was considered a priority, had his doubts the project would succeed. He suggested the apathy he perceives from those who would directly profit or be affected by the plan is a bad sign.
“I have not had one landowner show any remote interest,” Collins said. “If we are doing this for landowners and businesses, I should see some interest. I would like to see something from them before we beat ourselves up over this.”
Maloof countered that the consultants who devised the plan claimed to have received a great deal of interest from citizens.
“The interest is there, but we don’t have a cohesive plan,” she said.
City Manager Reid Silverboard suggested regulations must be set in place with “plain language” so the public is not confused.
When Commissioner Bob Minning asked Silverboard if he could “get a strategy together” soon, Silverboard responded, “Yes.”
Recreation fees hikes
Both citizens and noncitizens will have to pay a bit more to play in Treasure Island under proposed rate increases. Among some of the changes:
• Golf fees at Treasure Bay will rise by $1 during the summer months and $2 during the winter months.
• Rental fees for pull carts will go up $1.
• Vending concessions will increase.
• Summer tennis fees will increase by $1.
• Tennis and golf camps will increase in both daily and monthly fees.
• Marina fees will increase by $1 per foot.
• Six-hour rates to rent out a city-owned facility will also increase by $100.
Millage rate
The city passed a new millage rate of 2.38 for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2008. It was a 9 percent rollback.
The current rate is 2.62 mills.
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Article published on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007
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