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

Incumbent Vice Mayor Dave Brenner v. Candidate Ray Rajewski

All Registered Longboat Key Voters Are Eligible to Vote in this Race

The PIC (Longboat Key Public Interest Committee) Board believes that one of the organization’s main functions is to disseminate information both to its members and to the community in order to enhance the community’s deliberative process.

To further that goal your board engaged in two initiatives with respect to the March 20 contested District 3 town Commission race. First, it sponsored a February 20 forum in conjunction with the Longboat Observer. Next, it submitted written questions to both candidates with the purpose of sending the candidates’ answers to you – our members – and posting those answers on PIC’s website.

At the outset Mr. Rajewski told former Mayor Ron Johnson – a PIC Board member acting on behalf of the board – that he would appear at a PIC sponsored forum. Later he declined to participate, citing so-called problems with PIC’s “agenda”. Subsequently he also declined to answer the questions submitted to him in writing, while at the same time admitting “the questions do represent legitimate issues.”

Vice Mayor Brenner appeared at the February 20 forum and answered a plethora of questions posed by PIC, the Longboat Observer, and the many attending citizens. He also answered PIC’s written questions.

Vice Mayor Brenner’s written answers are provided below for your informational purposes.

The PIC Board anticipates that it will be issuing shortly an endorsement with respect to this contested election.

Answers to PIC’s Questionnaire

by David Brenner, candidate for 3rd District

March 20, 2012 Contested District 3, Election for Town Commission

These questions were sent to both candidates

Incumbent Vice-Mayor David Brenner and Ray Rajewski

Mr. Rajewski refused to participate

1. Do you believe that the current LBK municipal pension plans represent a significant financial/budgetary issue for the community? If so, how do you suggest that this issue be addressed and what, if any, problems do you anticipate would be encountered in doing do?

If you believe that this question need not be addressed, please explain why not and what the long term ramifications of that decision might be.

D.B. Answer: The pension plans are a significant financial issue for the community. My response is limited by the fact that as a sitting Commissioner I am involved in the development of the Town’s proposal which is being produced in executive session. The proposal will be part of the collective bargaining process with firefighters and police which is a serious consideration before final resolution is achieved. There is no getting away from the existing unfunded pension liability of approximately $25 million and to suggest nothing be done is unrealistic. It will continue to grow if we don’t deal with it now. It’s my hope that the Town’s proposal will be on the table and accepted, perhaps with modifications, by year-end.

2. What do you see as the three biggest problems now facing Longboat Key and what role, if any, should the Town Commission take in addressing those problems?

D.B. Answer: 1. The pension problem addressed above.

2. The future evolution of our Key. This includes resolution of the Colony situation, moving ahead with the Key Club revitalization and turning around Whitney Plaza. Make our Comprehensive Plan and related land use ordinances sufficiently clear that potential investors will know what kind of regulatory environment they are being invited to invest in.

3. The management of our Town government. While not a serious problem currently, we need to sharpen our processes making maximum use of ever changing technology so we can respond to our citizens’ needs effectively and efficiently.

3. How do you rate the total communication infrastructure on the island (cellular and wireless) and what, if any, particular steps do you think need be taken to improve the situation? To what extent should the Town Commission be involved in rectifying any problems which exist?

D.B. Answer: Moderately satisfactory. The steps to improve it should come from the outside consultant we have retained to help us work our way through a highly complex subject. Subject to that advice, I visualize a Town-wide approach to the problem. With the Town assuring that our codes permit whatever solution that is proposed. It is my hope that with the ground rules clearly understood a private sector driven approach will be employed. We have our power provided by FPL; why couldn’t some communication enterprise do the same thing for our communication needs?

4. This is a two part question about Town-Wide planning. Would developing a “master plan” for the Town be useful in guiding the restoration and retention of our island’s attractiveness as a premier residential and resort-like community? If so, is it appropriate for the Commission to investigate investment in a professional effort to develop such a strategy and plan for the future?

D.B Answer: Yes and Yes. All the expertise to do this right does not reside with the town staff.

5. The Town of Longboat Key has a professional Town Manager and an elected Town Commission. What do you see as the roles of the Manager and the Town Commission in the running of the town?

D.B Answer: The Town Commission is a policy making body. We set the direction in which the Town moves. The Town Manager carries out those policy objectives through his control of the Town’s operations.

6. How do you envision the best way to facilitate a positive and productive political environment on the Key?

D.B. Answer: The best way to improve the political environment is to create an atmosphere of openness and full disclosure by the Town and its elected officials. It doesn’t insure the town-wide political environment will improve, but by setting a high standard we can hope the rest of the body politic will follow suit.

February 25, 2012

Meeting # 1: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

2 PM to 4 PM

• Review the current Master Plan and share your ideas and feedback
• Confirm program elements and floor plans.

Meeting # 2: Monday, February 6, 2012
2 PM to 4 PM

• Provide additional input and discuss the next steps

Meeting Location:
Bayfront Park Recreation Center
4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Longboat Key FL 34228