Siesta Key Association Board Meeting Minutes

August 7, 2008
St. Boniface Meeting Room “F”

CALL TO ORDER: Lourdes Ramirez called the meeting to order.

MINUTES: – Joyce Kouba: No quorum was in attendance to approve the July minutes.

TREASURER'S REPORT – Bob Tripp: No quorum was in attendance to approve the Treasurer's Report.

SHERIFF'S REPORT – Deputy McGregor: Sound meter readings indicate that all village bars were in compliance with ordinance. A couple was robbed at beach access 5. Joe Volpe, Treasure Boat Way, complained about excessive speeding on his street by renters on Oxford Dr. Three Birdsong Rd. residents (751, 719 and 744 Birdsong) complained about cars and motorcycles dangerously speeding and creating noise problem on Midnight Pass at Birdsong.

LIFEGUARD REPORT – Manager JR Ayres: 191,000 visitors at Siesta beach in July, with 20,000 on July 4. Lifeguards have the new patrol boat, which will be in service by the end of August mainly to patrol Turtle Beach. www.Mote.org is the Mote Marine Website, which updates beach conditions twice per day. The recent beach closure was due to storm water runoff primarily from the mainland through Big Pass from the heavy rains. Joe Volpe added that the combination of north/west wind, high tide, and heavy rain usually create such conditions. This closure was NOT due to runoff from the retention pond at the main beach.

PUBLIC/AUDIENCE COMMENT: Ed Sherman recommended that the 40- pound posts on Turtle Beach be removed because they will be a danger to homes and people in a storm. What is the approved new sidewalk plan for Midnight Pass? The one seen by residents removes all vegetation and buffers on west (Birdsong) side of road, resulting is a very wide concrete walk. Based on foot traffic along that road, it seems that only one side of the road needs sidewalk.

AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Midnight Pass – Bob Waechter (Peter van Roekens):: The State has a deadline of September 5th to determine if they are going to ask for more information, which is unlikely.

Turtle Beach – Ron Flynn: No report.

Inlet Management – Peter van Roekens: All markers are in place in Big Pass. Truitt Study and peer review have been completed and will be announced to BCC in November. Recommendation is to reduce the width of the marked channel. http://www.sarasotayachtclub.org/fw/main/Big_Pass_Information-405.html

Noise – Peter van Roekens: The sheriffs have been doing extensive late night patrols, which has bar owners promising to comply. Non-compliance will be warned again and cited. You know when one bar owner complains about another, it is much too loud. As President of Terrace East, I get complaints from those in the building when noise gets out of hand. These people do not want their names to be listed in the sheriffs' records, as they want to remain anonymous, which often does not happen.

Our sound ordinance was negotiated with the bar owners and although it was over twice as high as recommended by the sound expert that worked on the Blue ribbon panel for the city, it is our law. But enforcement is the key. When the ordinance says 80 decibels for a given business and they are playing at 90 decibels that is 2 times as loud as is legal and 4 times what the experts recommended. Anything over 80-85 decibels is considered dangerous; permanent hearing loss can occur depending on the intensity and duration of exposure. This is not a case of strains of music wafting pleasantly into residents' consciousness. It is a deep thumping bass that goes through their bodies and prevents sleep although windows are shut and curtains are drawn.

Code Enforcement – Gayle Wardner: Gayle Wardner is meeting with the Sheriff next week about motorcycle noise.

Parking – Bob Schennum: On July 15, Village businesses asked for extension to work out their parking plan, which they will propose as a compromise to a new ordinance proposed by the County. Joe Volpe suggested the County buy vacant land at corner of Ocean and Treasure Boat for village parking lot. Paul van Deventer urged that ESL funds NOT be used to purchase land for parking.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Nominating/Board Development – Paul van Deventer: No report.

Zoning – Lourdes Ramirez:

Coastal Code GBSL – next meeting August 26 at 9:00 a.m.
The next draft of the Coastal Code is available (ftp://ftp.scgov.net/Pub/ResourceProtection/Coastal_Setback). We will review the document and make comments to the BCC. We are concerned about the suggestions made by other barrier island associations that loosen the current code to allow more structures seaward of the GBSL and more shoreline hardening.

Flood Prone Area, Ordinance 92-55: Public hearing held July 8 at 9:00 a.m. This ordinance involves rebuilding of homes in the Flood Prone areas. We made our comments and unfortunately the County voted to adopt the ordinance as written by staff.

Zoning Code update: heard at the BCC will be July 23rd. No public input allowed but the BCC did provide staff with some directions. The County staff will have its updated Zoning Code proposed amendment ready by the end of August. The next review by the BCC will be Sept 9th.

Duplex lawsuit appeal – petitioner lost the appeal. The code that prohibits duplexes on undersized lots will be enforced.

Palm Island lot of record issue – County lost appeal. The lot may be buildable but only because of Equitable Estoppel, which means the owner went on good faith to buy the property because of one of former Zoning Administrator's erroneous letters of determination.

Tenacity Lane – there is rumor of property owners' discussion with staff to find out what can be built but no concrete action yet.

EAR – Comprehensive Plan review will start to take place next summer (2009). It is due at the state by 2011. Every chapter will be reviewed for consistency to current state law plus any new additions or changes.

Hyatt – The County is looking into their beach concerts. The County thought there were only private parties but anything that involves the public may need a temporary use permit plus be limited to 4 events per year. Also the County is looking at the advertised Cantina and tiki bar. None are in the plans so it will just be monitored since those uses are prohibited under the code.

Hub – Lourdes' deposition was boring, yet twice as long as Zoning Administrator. Morgan Bentley needed to be reminded of the Constitution's first amendment right of free speech. According to staff, the Hub requested outdoor dining permit in the right of way, which was denied. Staff is still looking at their nightclub status. Joe Volpe suggested that SKA check the County's Certificate of Occupancy for China Dragon, which should state what activities will occur on premises.

County Charter Amendments – the 2 amendments proposed by the BCC for August vote should be rejected.

Membership – Deet Jonker: No report.

OLD BUSINESS: Questions developed at our last workshop will be sent to all directors for review and comments. A survey will be sent with our 2009 Membership mailing.

NEW BUSINESS: None.

ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Kouba
Secretary, Siesta Key Association

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Previous Board Minutes (July 2008)
Next Board Minutes (September 2008)

For more information, please contact us
phone 941/364-4880
email info@siestakeyassociation.com