IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR INSURANCE STATUS COME TO THE PIC SPONSORED INSURANCE FORUM TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 LONGBOAT KEY ISLAND CHAPEL, 6200 GULF OF MEXICO DR. 7:00 PM

This Forum is not sponsored by any insurance company or agency; it is an informational session and there will be NO solicitation of business. 

• Mayor Jim Brown,

• Commissioner Terry Gans

• Commissioner Phill Younger

PIC strongly believes that LBK voters should return incumbents Brown, Gans and Younger to the Town Commission so they can continue their fine work on behalf of the citizens and our island.

The PIC Board unanimously endorsed these candidates only after hearing all 6 candidates at a recent debate, and examining their records, positions on issues, and prior and present public service involvement. Board members believe that those receiving these endorsements are clear thinking, analytical, dedicated, hard working and want to maintain Longboat Key as a premier residential community, with a proper balance of tourism and commercial amenities so as to protect our property values and our quality of life. Returning them to office will allow them to continue on the productive and beneficial road down which the Commission has been traveling.

 In PIC’s view the opposing candidates collectively have no plan. However, they, and certain people speaking on their collective behalf, have made many misleading claims.

Voters should examine each and every one of those claims.  This endorsement statement can briefly address but a few of them.

It has been claimed, for example, that the Commission broke the law and somehow violated the state constitution in connection with the Longboat Key Club expansion request. However, the town merely did not prevail in civil proceedings.  The court  determined that codes were unreliable and should be reworked.  In acting upon the application the town followed longstanding procedure under code of permitting departures so a projects could proceed.

Neither – as has been claimed – have the incumbents or the Commission approved or sought to approve some sort of massive and drastic expansion of tourism.  They have acted and sought to act in accordance with the town vision plan, which was produced with citizen participation, and to effectuate the 2008 citizen referendum approval to allow 250 additional tourist units as replacement for some of the many units lost to other uses over the years.

Similarly misleading statements have been made by the opposition and their supporters about municipal pension reform, beach renourishment, town litigation costs in connection with the Key Club application and a myriad of other subjects.  PIC urges the voters to closely examine and scrutinize of all such statements.  by all voters.   It believes that this will lead to the obvious conclusion that Mayor Brown and Commissioners Gans and Younger should be returned to office.  PIC so advocates consistent with its primary missions of promoting “good local government” and preserving our “premier residential community.”

Annual Meeting will take place on January 24, 2013 briefly after the Revitalization Forum. The purpose of this meeting is to elect PIC Board of Directors. Ballots will be provided.

• If you haven’t already sent your Membership Dues please do so: Household $40 and Sponsor $100. Please send checks to Public Interest Committee, Inc. of Longboat Key, PO Box 8221, Longboat Key, FL 34228
• If you have never been a member you are heartily invited to join us.

The Insurance Forum will be held on March 19, 2013 7PM. This Forum will address the facts about our insurance situation and answer questions from those of us who pay the price.

PIC and The Longboat Key Observer will sponsor a Town Commission Candidates’ Debate on February 11, 2013 at 7 PM at the Bay Front Recreation Center; 4052 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key. Free and Open to the Public.

“What do we have?” and “How do we preserve it?”

As a public service organization, it is PIC?s goal to provide assistance both to the community and to this Commission that will help in maintaining the character, vitality, ambiance and conveniences of Longboat Key. To that end we appeared before you exactly one year ago to urge six Commission-based initiatives, all of which are consistent with the town?s Vision Plan.

For your convenience, a copy of that presentation was attached to the written materials now before you. In brief summary we urged (1) prompt resolution of the municipal employee pension plan crisis; (2) support for island-based physical, mental and emotional health initiatives; (3) planning for and the funding of a Community Center; (4) improvements to the island?s communication infrastructure; (5) adoption of a long term beach management and nourishment program; and (6) support for an island wide revitalization effort.

In the last twelve months the Commission has been busy and has faced many perhaps unanticipated issues. Thus – despite the fact that it has been a hard working and largely cohesive group, which has seemed anxious to preserve, protect and enhance the island?s quality of life – PIC is disappointed that none of its priority initiatives have either come to fruition or progressed to the extent that might have been hoped.

Accordingly, our primary message today is a request that the Commission promptly and decisively move forward with these initiatives to the fullest extent permitted by law. We also have two additional requests.

First, we ask that the Commission formally report to PIC and to the community as to the present status of each of the requested initiatives, as well as when and how the Commission intends to move forward with same.

Additionally – and finally – PIC asks that the Commission undertake a separate initiative designed to entice all members of the community to step forward to act in volunteer and other roles that will support our governmental and non-governmental institutions and otherwise enhance our quality of life.
Thank you for your consideration.

Now that the smoke of the campaign has cleared, it is time to set the record straight.

What

For nearly 30 years, the Longboat Key Public Interest Committee (PIC) has served to learn the facts behind issues facing Longboat’s citizens, inform the public, and give voice to policies that keep our island the wonderful place it has been, is, and will be in the future.  We are not and have never been a mouthpiece for the Town Commission.  We are watchful, critical and supportive depending on how the Commission meets the criteria of our mission; the Vision Plan, and the good of our citizens.

As in its early days, PIC believes there is a necessary balance of residential population, visitors (or tourists) and commercial to serve resident and visitors on the island.  At times, the goal of balance – as in the past – meant saying “too much”.  Today it means recognizing that the Key is falling short on available visitor units and retail establishments, and that some of our older facilities need renewal and redevelopment.

Certainly it would seem reasonable that a committee operating for the public interest should support revitalization.  A worrisome trend has taken place on the Key with the closing of shops in the Avenue of the Flowers, Whitney Beach Plaza, the Colony Resort and two conveniently positioned gas stations.

Who

PIC membership is open to any resident of Longboat Key.  PIC’s membership, and its 16 person Board, are made up of homeowners – both single family and condo – as well as renters. It is full-time residents and “snowbirds”.  It is people who are working, and those who are retired.  It is men and women.  It is people from all parts of the Island.  It is inclusive, rather than exclusive, and it is certainly not some limited elite.  PIC is made up of your neighbors.

Accomplishments

In the last several years PIC fulfilled its core mission of gathering and sharing information through a group of public forums and through membership receptions. PIC will continue to do so. Events have included;

• Forum on Pension Crisis
• Forum on Beach Nourishment
• Forum on Wireless Communication
• Forum on Aging in Paradise
• Forum on Off Shore Drilling
• Forum on the plans and scheduling for the Publix and Avenue of the Flowers rebuilding
• Old Fashioned Town Meeting Reception for Membership to meet new interim Town Manager David Bullock and get an update of the Town’s Status.
• Special receptions for our membership to thank them for their support and to elicit their ideas.
• Candidates Debate for the 3^rd District Commission election, co-sponsoring with the Longboat Key Observer
• Forum for a report from the task force on the North End Revitalization project.

In addition the PIC Board members attend all Commission meetings and many other community meetings sponsored by Island groups as observers.

Invited

We invite all those interested in the future of Longboat Key to join as members.  Your support keeps us vital and able to present important programs of interest to our citizens.  That support has also enabled us to install an informative web-site that will also keep you abreast of PIC projects and other community information such as election results.  It also offers a forum for your questions and ideas and offers you the ability to join us as members.  Please use it.

WWW.LBKPIC.com

Public Interest Committee (PIC) Co-Presidents,

Gaele Barthold

Ann Roth