commissioners do a double-take
tommyMariella Smith reports that the Hillsborough County BOCC has decided to figure out what it is that they did a couple weeks ago.
You might remember that they killed a proposal (smart growth, walkable communities, etc.) created by citizens. That they killed it is not the outrageous part. But they killed it without any public input, which really irked me, and had developers all soiling themselves with glee.
The two commissioners who voted against the slaughter asked the others to take a moment to figure out what they had done. Because of your emails, the BOCC will now be meeting on April 11 for another workshop. This time to learn exactly what the already killed proposal was about. I agree with Mariella who says it’s the very definition of “shoot first and ask questions later.” Anyway, they are gonna meet and consider placing it back into the official plan for Hillsborough County.
Now… There is no way to tell what they will do on April 11. They may:
- learn exactly what the citizens’ additions are, yet ignore them anyway, claiming that the proposal does not belong no matter what.
Or they may:
- learn all about the citizens’ additions, choose to add them back in and get more public input on April 19 (as originally planned), and then figure it out.
I encourage you to suggest that the BOCC put the proposal back in, and wait for public comment as they first planned. Then, if you have an opinion on the proposal, show up on April 19 after work, and let your feelings known.
Of course, you don’t have to do anything at all. But you can be damn certain the developers will be there with charts, graphs, and all sorts of reasons why it should be killed (again?).
If you want a say in how your county grows, I highly recommend you let your leaders know DIRECTLY. Telling me will not make any sort of impression on commissioners - they don’t even listen to the newspaper.
FIRST: may as well send ‘em another email, asking that the original proposal, including the “Livable Communities Element” portion be placed back in the official Hillsborough County plan during the April 11 workshop.
E-mail your County Commissioners:
- Jim Norman normanj@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Brian Blair blairb@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Mark Sharpe sharpem@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Rose Ferlita ferlitar@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Al Higgenbotham higginbothama@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Kevin White whitek@hillsboroughcounty.org
- Ken Hagan hagank@hillsboroughcounty.org
Or call them: 272-5660
Or mail them: P.O. Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601
Although that should be enough, if you are very concerned, you could show up at the workshop on April 11.
We’ll try to remind you about the April 19 “public comment” section closer to that date. In the meantime, check the links on our original post to learn all you want about the plans, and take a side or come up with alternative ideas for limiting - or encouraging - growth. I don’t care which side you pick as long as you make sure your leaders listen to you, but you should be somewhat knowledgeable to help guide your community.
Tags: county, development, environment, growth, hc bocc, tampa
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April 9th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Yes, for sure…Good on the re-scheduling..I had e-mailed Rose Ferlita re “Tnanks for holding off and disapproving action in that so-called secret meeting..”..She did not respond.Best to maintain widely-announced, regularly scheduled public meetings.
Let the debate begin..
April 9th, 2007 at 11:52 am
“* learn exactly what the citizens’ additions are, yet ignore them anyway”
I’m inclined to call this the most likely outcome. Look at who the major donors are for the board members who knife us in the back — and ask THEM about holding public meetings.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
[...] encouraged by the handful of people who have contacted us in recent weeks about the BOCC ignoring the citizens‘ wishes. Many of you are sick of the way we are being ignored, and you are getting involved. [...]
April 10th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Today during a county commissioners meeting, a rezoning took place to modify the land use to accomodate a fire station at the intersection of Fletcher & North Boulevard.
Preserve Green Space??
Other examples of the use of space on that side of the road: two seperate public parks within a mile, a view of a lake, and houses that were converted into businesses.
The current size of the building is a small to medium size single family a residential home, the current owner a lawyer (what a surprize.) It will cost the county about $1M to aquire the land and the county architect is expecting to dig up a (surveyed) wetland area to build the drainage retention area.
One county comissioner quipped: hey it’s not like we are allowing a strip mall here.