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SRQ DAILY Jul 27, 2019

"The Planning Board consists of five accomplished, intelligent and dedicated individuals who voluntarily serve without compensation. "

- Morton Siegel, former Planning Board chair
 

[Under The Hood]  Statistical Quirk or Fuel for Controversy?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Since Sarasota County hired a consultant to explore population figures in existing county commission districts, an interesting development occurred. Previous estimates from county staff found less than a 10 percent population difference between the county’s most and least populous district. But the consultant found otherwise.

Why is this important? That 10-percent difference could very well be the difference in justifying a complete redistricting of Sarasota County’s district lines ahead of the 2020 census (and coincidentally an county election where voters newly elect commissioners in single-member districts).

So here is what happened. Sarasota County has gone ahead and hired Kurt Spitzer & Associates to do preliminary work and provide data for County Commissioners to consider before making a decision on early reapportionment. Kurt Spitzer and Associates has subsequently provided draft numbers doing their own population calculations on each district.

Sarasota County staff estimates show the greatest population difference exists between District 2 (79,915 residents) and District 5 (87,525). That’s a difference of 7,610, or 9.52 percent of the smaller district’s population. So yeah, pretty close to 10.

But KSA found slightly different figures. They figure staff underestimated the population by about 2.6 percent in District 5, and that actually 89,824 people live there. Moreover, they figure the county over-estimated in District 2, and only 79,590 actually live in that district. That means there’s a difference of 12.89 percent from the largest to smallest districts.

Now to be clear, there’s no evidence there’s anything close to wrongdoing here. One would expect any consultant to find different population figures through any method used. Part of the issue with doing redistricting in the year 2019 is that you have to work with estimates, and ones build with a higher level of speculation than at any other time. There’s only one time when the government goes door to door to get as accurate a count as possible of each and every person living in the country, and that’s during the decennial U.S. Census, which happens next year.

I asked Sarasota County about the difference in techniques and heard this back from the county.

“Kurt Spitzer and Associates will present their final data to the BCC no later than Aug. 28, per the contract,” said county spokeswoman Brianne Grant. “Data points found in the draft population counts may differ due to variances in the methodologies used, total data points collected and anticipated fluctuations in community growth. Kurt Spitzer and Associates was selected as the consultant for redistricting data based on their previous work with redistricting efforts in other jurisdictions.”

Again, that is all entirely reasonable.

But the tiniest shift in these numbers will surely fan suspicions at the local level. "The Commission has gone data shopping because their original numbers did not support their objective of a pre-2020 Census redraw," suggests political activist Gabriel Hament.

The county commission’s objective when it draws is to keep districts at worst within 10 percent of other in population. They typically try to get much closer, considering they want those district lines to stand for a decade. The idea Commissioner Charles Hines represents almost 13 percent more constituents than Commissioner Christian Ziegler rightfully sounds upsetting.

It’s been pointed out the county redistricted every other year through the 1980s to balance districts, though that only impacted residency rules for candidates when all seats were decided in county-wide votes. That changes with next fall’s races.

But it’s only this new set of numbers that says the districts are that out of whack.

The weird thing is KSA’s guess for the entire county is only 0.3 percent different than the county. That the paid consultant found such a significant difference in the largest district while underestimating populations elsewhere will only fuel outrage.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ Media Group. 

[On City]  Planning Board Remains Professional
Morton Siegel

Christine Robinson’s assortment of allegations in her recent SRQ op-ed had no basis in fact. Contrary to her allegations, there is no problem with the City of Sarasota Planning Board. The Planning Board consists of five accomplished, intelligent and dedicated individuals who voluntarily serve without compensation. Their responsibility is to make recommendations to the City Commission including amendments, ordinances, regulations and other proposals such as special studies necessary for determining compliance.

They inform, not dictate; they are not subservient to the staff; they listen, discuss and debate. Indeed, there are differences of opinion but they are always respectful. Her self-serving reference to the Chair of the Planning Board is small ball. The Chair’s professional career and service to the Sarasota community is in many ways exemplary.

Sarasota Commissioners Hagen Brody and Liz Alpert’s notion the Planning Board is political is blatantly false and shows a complete lack of being able to address the important issues. More importantly, there are three recommendations the Planning Board has made to Tim Litchet, Director of the Neighborhood and Development Services, on code enforcement, construction safety and conditional uses.

City and Planning Board Counsel Michael Connelly takes the position the Board has limited authority and can’t raise the issue of code enforcement. I disagree; the Planning Board has specific and general authority, particularly when it involves public safety. Judicial decisions agree. Residents of Sarasota have been complaining about site safety and other important issues for several months. The Planning Board listened and acted.

In March of this year, I attended a meeting at the request of Eileen Normile, Chair of the Planning Board, with Tim Lichet at his office. It was an excellent meeting, discussing primarily the issues of code enforcement and construction site safety. Tim had staff concerns related to code enforcement.

Fast forward to the July 1 City Commission meeting and the issues of code enforcement and construction safety were replaced by ridiculous assertions and disrespectful accusations by Hagen and Alpert, as well as Lichet’s testimony about his dedicated staff. Mayor Alpert failed to exercise any leadership in controlling the decorum of the meeting. Commissioner Jennifer Ahern-Koch and Willie Shaw tried to restore order. At the July 8 City Commission Budget Workshop, Lichet said he didn’t need any more people for code enforcement.

It’s time to regroup and adopt the changes needed to address the concerns raised by the community and addressed by the Planning Board. It should be done now and not two years from now.

Morton Siegel was a member of the Sarasota Planning Board for six years, serving one year as Chairman. 

Photo: July 1 City Commission meeting.



[SB2]  Photos from SB2: Transformation in Philanthropy are now online

Photographs are now available from SB2: Transformation in Philanthropy. The philanthropy-focused luncheon and panel discussion took place at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota on Thursday, July 25, 2019. SRQ MEDIA thanks panel participants David Moore, Founder and President of Moore Strategic Consulting; Sabeen Perwaiz, Executive Director of the Florida Nonprofit Alliance and Lilly Weinberg, Program Director of Community and National Initiatives for the Knight Foundation for their insightful contributions to the conversation. The SB2: Transformation in Philanthropy panel discussed strategies for creating an effective and diverse board of directors, explored how nonprofits can maximize their capacity to realize their mission, and addressed how to catalyze donor engagement in an evolving market.  

Thank you to SB2: Transformation in Philanthropy event sponsor CoolToday, to the 2019-2020 SB2 Series sponsors: Merrill Lynch Mariash Lowther Wealth Management, JFCS of the Suncoast, The Hyatt Regency Sarasota and PSAV and to all who attended the program. 

Photos are available here

[SCOOP]  Summer Camp at Girls Inc. Is Going Strong

 

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The middle school girls at Girls Inc. have been rockin' and rollin' with their partners at the Music Compound. Girls participated in a week long Girls Rock Camp, where they learned about females in rock and roll throughout history, stage presence, and more. Meanwhile, Girls Inc. high school girls have been learning about careers in government, non-profit, and leadership. They recently attended a Sarasota County Commissioner Meeting, met with Representative Margaret Good and visited Teen Court of Sarasota. You can help the girls get ready for the upcoming school year by donating new school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at 201 South Tuttle Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8am-6pm from now through August 5. 

Girls Inc. Sarasota

[SCOOP]  Children First Chosen to Lead Literacy Effort

Children First has been selected for a matching grant through the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) literacy network for its commitment to lifelong learning. Books for Ownership is RIF’s flagship reading program that enables children to select new, age-appropriate books to take home in an effort to create a continuous focus on literacy. Rohn and Susan Schaefer of DG Ace Hardware provided matching funds to encourage a love of literacy among our community’s most at-risk youth. Because only 1 in 300 low-income children own a book, Books for Ownership relies on a simple yet fundamental truth: if you allow children choice and access, they will become more engaged readers and learners.  

Children First

[SCOOP]  Fueling the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, Relay and 10K

You may have participated in the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, Relay and 10K, but did you know that the race involves over 200 volunteers, 40 police officers, 20 medical support personnel, 3,000 gallons of water and 2,500 gallons of Gatorade? The race results in more than $3.4 million in total economic impact in Sarasota-Manatee Counties. The event also increases the household incomes of local residents by $1.3 million and creates 39 new jobs in the area. 

First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon

[SCOOP]  Neuro Challenge Entrepreneurial Initiative

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s is strengthening its entrepreneurial capacity and increasing its mission impact with earned-income strategies developed and implemented through participation in Margin & Mission Ignition 2019, an initiative of The Patterson Foundation. As one of three regional organizations selected, Neuro Challenge Foundation will work with No Margin, No Mission, a social enterprise and national consulting firm engaged by The Patterson Foundation, over a 30- month process. No Margin, No Mission will work with each nonprofit to develop and implement business plans for revenue-generating ventures. 

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's

[SCOOP]  Meatless Monday at Lemon Tree Kitchen

Lemon Tree Kitchen is offering 25% off all vegan dishes on their all-day menu every Monday beginning next week on Monday, July 29. You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy the taste of these dishes, or the new price. Enjoy menu items such as Pad Thai Spring Rolls, an Impossible Vegan Burger, and the Ancient Grains Chopped Salad. Lemon Tree Kitchen is offering over 15 different vegan menu items, just look for the vegan symbol on their menu. 

Lemon Tree Kitchen

[SCOOP]  Letters from Social Security Not Too Good to Be True

Millions of Americans are receiving letters from the Social Security Administration about programs that could help pay their health care expenses, including 4,900 Sarasota County residents.  Recipients of these letters are likely eligible for federal programs that can potentially cover the costs of prescriptions, copays, premiums and other Medicare expenses. Although these letters may sound too good to be true, the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL) wants to reassure seniors that these letters from the Social Security Administration are legitimate.  Recipients are encouraged to contact SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) at AAASWFL to determine if they are eligible and receive application assistance. 

AAASWFL

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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