Sunday, December 8, 2019

Recommendations to the Board for 12.13.19 strategic meeing

The email below was sent to the Board and Administrator ahead of their Dec. 13, 2019 strategy session: Audio of that meeting is here.

Argus CEO Robinson
at 12.13 Board Session
To: The Board of Sarasota County Commissioners
From: Citizens for District Power

RE: Recommendations for consideration at your December 13 Strategic Planning Retreat

Commissioners,

Citizens for District Power supports fair and open electoral processes. In advance of your 12.13.19 strategy meeting, we respectfully offer these considered recommendations:

1. Single Member Districts: We urge you to produce clear simple voting directions, with detailed maps showing all precincts with updated boundaries, so that all citizens will be clear about where they will vote in primaries and general elections.

2. We strongly advise against consideration of any amendment to overturn the Single Member District decision approved by a clear bi-partisan majority of voters in 2019.

3. We recommend that you reverse the Board's Charter Amendment regarding citizen-initiated petitions; it places an undue burden on citizens’ rights and ability to petition their government.

4. We recommend formulation of a policy to encourage Commissioners to make sure their commitment to their constituents in Sarasota County takes precedence over commitment to assignments on other boards and committees.

5. We advise adoption of a clear, strong set of guidelines serving to eliminate conflicts of interest involving elected officials.

6. Anonymity of Board Actions: A review of Board meeting minutes and related documents has revealed that the nominating Commissioner's identity (for appointments to Boards such as the Board of Zoning Appeals) is not explicitly stated. A clear public record needs to be established showing which Commissioner nominated which member of each Board.

7. Finally, we ask that you undertake a review of the record of the Economic Development Corp. with an eye toward determining whether it should continue to receive public support, or should be decoupled from the County.

Should you desire more background on any of these recommendations, please contact Pat Rounds at roundspc@earthlink.net.

Thank you,

Kindra Muntz
Glenna Blomquist
Susette Bryan
Adrien Lucas
Tom Matrullo
Pat Rounds
William Zoller

Fredd Atkins addressing those at Phillippi Protest 12.13.19

3 comments:

  1. I think it may be time for Sarasota County to adopt requirements for registration of lobbyists and a set of ethical standards governing elected officials during and after their term of office.

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  2. This is probably necessary - along with, perhaps, some rules about campaign contributions and requirements for self-recusal during public hearings on development.

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  3. “PAC-money” Muntz pushed for single member districts string they were the will of the people, but now when OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES consider changing that (as it had been reversed before), she demands they act “her “PAC-money way” and not in what they consider to be our best interests. �� LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS - INCLUDING REDISTRICTING.

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