LARGO – Some Largo City Commissioners want to examine their procedures pertaining to annexations after hearing concerns about the effects they have on police protection.
In a response to a request from Commissioner Rodney Woods, Police Chief Lester Aradi expressed comments about the negative effects of annexations in writing to city officials and also at the commission meeting Sept. 15.
“Annexations over the past year, and in previous years, have had a cumulative and substantive draining effect upon police department resources,” Aradi wrote.
He pointed out the problem of annexing properties that immediately deplete available resources and divert police service, such as some mobile home parks and apartment complexes.
“All of these large density annexations have required immediate, continual large-scale responses and attention from the police department. Low income housing and the transient nature of the residents can often result in noticeable increases in illegal narcotics activity, domestic violence, gang activity, thefts, and code enforcement issues,” Aradi wrote.
Plans to annex an adult entertainment complex will divert undercover law enforcement resources away from existing drug and vice investigations, he wrote.
Commissioners raised the issue during the discussion of the proposed annexation of a tract of right of way located on a portion of Roosevelt Boulevard between 59th Street North and 60th Street North.
Noting that police officials don’t recall reviewing the proposed annexation, Commissioner Gigi Arntzen said city officials should consider addressing what they put in the memos pertaining to annexations
A city memo said the city has not received any objections to the proposed annexation. When Arntzen read that, she said, she took it to mean that all appropriate agencies, such as police, have been contacted and there are no objections.
“We do need a mechanism to do a regular review of whether we are adequately staffed or not,” Mayor Pat Gerard said.
In the meantime, she said, she didn’t see the sense in annexing a piece of property that will not bring in more income but more work. In April 2008 the City Commission approved a resolution accepting a $1 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation for the beautification of medians on East Bay Drive and Roosevelt Boulevard.
“The only reason we are doing it is to put trees there,” Gerard said.
Commissioner Mary Black, who has spoken out against annexations at previous meetings, said the taxes, franchise fees and utility costs do not cover the cost of providing the services when the city annexes.
“I think we need to take annexation a lot more seriously than we have been,” Black said. “Annexing property to the city is a cost to the city.”
According to city officials, the city has annexed 20 single-family homes, 406 mobile home units, four utility properties, five businesses, 12 vacant parcels and 12 rights of way in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
Commissioners denied the annexation of the right of way. Annexation policies are slated to be discussed in a City Commission workshop in December.
