Minutes of November 12, 2019 Board Meeting
The meeting, which was held at Hotel Indigo, was called to order at 5:30 pm by President Richard Mones.
Board Members Present: Howard Davis, Grace Howl (late), Jim Lampl, David Lough, Richard Mones and Debbie Trice. Absent: Ryan McBride, Sue Stewart, Moriah Taliaferro. Visitors: none
Board activities since the last meeting:
Online vote on MOTION: To send a letter to Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner in support of William Russell's proposal to move Election Precinct 207's Polling Place from the Municipal Auditorium to McCown Towers (Motion: David; Second: Debbie) PASSED.
AGENDA ITEMS
Secretary's Report & Approval of Minutes
APPROVAL OF MINUTES of October 8 by acclamation.
President's Report
Richard reported that Linda Holland, President of the Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association, suggested that we hold a joint meeting to discuss items of mutual interest. After considering alternative dates, the Board requested that Richard arrange for the two boards to get together on December 3 at 5:30 pm at Hotel Indigo.
Richard reported that the answer to his inquiry about the possibility of returning the Palsar property to its initial DTE zoning was “not gonna happen.”
We agreed to a list of speakers for the January 22 Community Meeting: City Parking Manager Mark Lyons, 2020 Census representative Neil Dollar, and the candidates for the RDA Board. We decided to postpone a City speaker on Sustainability until April.
Next RDA Board Election / Bylaws Modification
Richard had distributed via email two proposed amendments to the Bylaws to all Board Members. These proposals were to correct items that we had second thoughts about after amending the Bylaws in October. After some discussion, they were passed by acclamation, so that the initial bylaws text on the Nomination Process will now read:
Nomination Process: The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee at its November meeting. The committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) members of the Association, including one current Director. A current Director shall serve as Chair. Members of the Nominating Committee who file as candidates for the Board shall recuse themselves from further service on the committee.
In compliance with the Bylaws, Richard then appointed members of the Nominating Committee: himself as Chair, Debbie and Jim. Sue will be asked to join and additional members will be solicited at the Community Meeting.
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Agenda for November 14 Community Meeting
After lengthy discussion, details of the agenda were ironed out.
• Welcome, introductions, review agenda (Richard)
• Board Accomplishments (Howard)
• Board Reports
◦ Upcoming Elections (Debbie)
◦ Business Alliance including introduce new businesses (Jim)
◦ Open Space including introduce Speakers (David)
• Presentation and Q&A with Transportation Planners Colleen McGue and Megan Lui (Moderator, Sue)
• General Q&A to RDA Board
We need someone to create PowerPoint slides. Richard will ask Sue if she can do it. Howard recommended that we provide paper agendas to attendees even though there will be a slide with the agenda. Debbie will prepare them and include a list of upcoming events.
Arlington Park Proposal for CCNA vote
There was general Board agreement with the revised proposal.
Committee Reports: Business Alliance
Jim reported on his ongoing effort to introduce himself and RDA to all the businesses and rental complexes in Rosemary District. He indicated that there are 4 new businesses: iBike, Victoria Blooms, Willows and DWY, a landscaper located in new commercial space in the Risdon.
Jim also spoke to John Moran and Mark Kauffman about the Downtown Improvement District. The DID is able to fund neighborhood amenities by taxing district properties. Howard warned that a similar arrangement in Rosemary District would take the City off the hook for the funds contributed by development in Rosemary District.
Grace provided written notes from the most recent “formal” Business Alliance meeting in June. In addition, she provided a draft of a survey she plans to distribute to Rosemary District businesses to prioritize needs to be addressed. Debbie offered to put the survey in Survey Monkey if Grace decides to publish it electronically.
Debbie reported that she and Jim recommend getting RDA business cards to use when introducing the organization. For the time being, these would just include RDA contact information, not names of individuals. After choosing one of Debbie's proposed designs, the Board authorized her to order 500 cards for about $20. Debbie will also get an estimate on a banner or large sign with the RDA logo and “Shop Local.” This will be used when RDA has a table at events like the upcoming Night Market on May Lane.
Committee Reports: Communications
Debbie reported that our mailing list now contains 490 subscribers (a 50% increase since April). Thanks go to David for keying in 75 emails from the Pace Car petition forms. The newsletter is consistently opened by about 50% of the recipients — an excellent rate.
Debbie will start sending out membership renewal notices shortly.
Committee Reports: Community Relations
No report.
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Committee Reports: Events / Programs
David arranged to have a table for RDA at the Veteran's Day Block Party.
David suggested that RDA host a ‘Shop Local’ table at the May Lane Night Time Market and invite Rosemary District businesses use this table to build awareness for their businesses. The table would be set-up and staffed by RDA board/committee members with standing offers to business owners to participate. The Shop Local table would be a benefit to a business owner who is an RDA Member. The night time markets are planned for the first Thursday of the month. Consensus was reached to proceed with the Shop Local table effort with the Business Alliance Committee assuming primary responsibility.
Committee Reports: Open Space
David reported that about 150 Pace Car forms have been collected. The Board agreed that he should deliver them to Colleen McGue at the Community Meeting after explaining their purpose to the attendees.
David reported that acquisition of land for the park is not going as smoothly as wished.
David reported on the effort to have the City plant trees on the City-owned Right of Way on Florida Avenue next to McCown Towers. The City has agreed to install irrigation, but William Russell (Sarasota Housing Authority CEO) is objecting because some McCown Towers residents are opposed. David has scheduled a meeting with Russell to discuss.
Committee Reports: The Bay
No report.
Committee Reports: Zoning
Howard indicated that RROD-II has returned to the City Commission for a final vote. He indicated that, because the City's planning staff and RDA representatives had previously made lengthy presentations to the Commissioners, a less formal approach, without a presentation, would be taken at this meeting. Consequently, it would not be necessary to rally community support at the meeting.
New Business
Debbie is meeting with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation for guidance on saving the Leonard Reid house.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:20 pm.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 10 at 5:30–7:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Trice, Secretary
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