Panhandle Citizens Coalition- 2003

( Editor's Note: This submission was removed at the request of Florida State University Panama City campus because it was based on several factual inaccuracies that presented a distorted picture of the University's role in the Airport issue.) 

... stan c, 11/12/03
 

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OCTOBER 10, 2003

Coalition Of Panhandle Citizens Organizations Applauds Florida Department Of Community Affairs For Identifying Major Gaps In St Joe Company's Airport And West Bay Plans---Announces Public Forum October 16 On Airport Options---Calls On Partners In Progress, Others To Disclose Campaign Financing.

A coalition of citizens including Citizens for the Bay, Panhandle Citizens
Coalition (PCC), Northwest Florida Sierra Club and Clean Water Network applauds
the Florida Department of Community Affairs'(DCA) report on the proposed Bay County comprehensive plan amendments for the Airport and West Bay Detailed Specific Area Plans (DSAP), that identifies major shortcomings with the proposed projects. The groups say the report, released October 4, 2003, provides a clear picture of potential ramifications these projects pose to the citizens of Bay County.

Diane Brown, spokesperson for Citizens for the Bay, a private nonprofit group
concerned about impacts of poorly-planned growth, stated "DCA identified a considerable amount of information and specific data the Airport Authority and the St Joe Company failed to include in their proposed comprehensive plan amendments-information required by Florida laws and regulations."

"The DSAP's transmitted to DCA did not contain the necessary information to determine the impacts of all this development on publicly furnished services and infrastructure, nor the costs of these impacts on the public. When the public finally sees this information, they will have a clearer understanding of how much the airport and the massive development in West Bay will cost them in terms of increased taxes and lost resources -- and they won't be happy. Also missing from the DSAP's were provisions for truly affordable housing, not just low-end 'Arvida' projects."

"DCA confirms what we have suspected all along and I quote: 'Given that the proposed Airport DSAP would drastically alter part of the headwaters of the two major tributaries to West Bay, Crooked Creek and Burnt Mill Creek. there are concerns about the potential for adverse affects to these tributaries.' No mitigation will ever ensure the health of these creeks."

"The report requires the Authority to identify the level of commercial and industrial development anticipated in each phase of the airport. With this information disclosed, we believe the unrealistic expectations of enormous economic growth and thousands of jobs boasted by airport proponents will evaporate."

"All in all, the report confirms what we have contended -- the airport will have substantial adverse impacts upon Bay County and its current residents, both economically and environmentally, and that the Airport Authority has not validated a need for a new airport," Brown stated.

John Hedrick, Chair of PCC, seconded those comments and stated: "This material shows why it is so important for citizens to become involved. These commissioners (county and city of Panama City) need a clear signal sent to them that they are going to have public referendums on this airport- they just have to decide if they want it to be as a separate, binding vote on the existing Commissions, via court order, or through their own individual elections. THIS WILL BE A KEY CAMPAIGN ISSUE. THIS AIRPORT IS THESE COMMISSIONERS' PIPELINE. the public needs to come out and tell them, kill the DSAP's now and let us vote on the airport-your voices have been and will continue to make the difference in this crucial issue," said Hedrick.

"The EIS process is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2004. Part of this process requires the federal government to determine whether the project is justified," said Sharon Maxwell, Chairperson of the Northwest Florida group of the Sierra Club. "We're definitely putting the cart before the horse if these plan amendments are adopted before FAA determines a new airport is really needed."

The St. Joe Company's involvement in the Bay County First/Partners for Progress media blitz on the airport has also come under heightened public scrutiny. " We call upon the St. Joe Company and all its affiliated companies and partners such as Partners in Progress, Bay County First, the Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance, and the Tourist Development Council, to disclose what monies have been spent on this campaign and by what individuals and companies." said Hedrick. "Their 'campaign without a campaign' is clearly designed to influence public policy and all these monies should have to be reported on the record-this constitutes a major loophole in campaign finance and lobbyist disclosure laws and needs to be fixed. Perhaps the Governor, since he has taken a sudden interest in this issues, would expand his call to solve this problem." Hedrick added.

"Although there is no formal requirement, Panhandle Citizens Coalition routinely reports its expenditures to the State Division of Elections and as of our last report had collected a little over $4,000 and spent almost $3,300. Contrast this with the estimated hundreds of thousands spent by the airport proponents on what will prove to be a futile attempt to fool the public," Hedrick added.

To ensure the public has all the facts on the proposed airport relocation, Citizens for the Bay will hold an Airport Options forum on October 16th, 7PM at Gulf Coast Community College's Gibson Lecture Hall, 2nd floor of the Student Union building. The event will feature Don Hodges, retired professional engineer and former airport technical manager for Delta Airlines as the main speaker, followed by public discussion. "The intent is to give the public access to a complete presentation on the airport so they can make up their own minds on this matter, free of a mind-numbing media blitz," said Brown.

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9/3/03 Update -

Judge Ferris ruled yesterday (Tuesday, 9/2/03) that Carrabelle must hold an election on the citizen referendums regarding the elimination of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance and extention of additional sewer and water service outside the city. Created by the Panhandle Citizens Coalition (PCC), the referendums, if passed by the voters, would force the City to (1) repeal the PUD ordinance now in effect allowing unlimited building heights and return to the previous Franklin County development regulations earlier in effect and (2) make the city get citizens approval and offer utility service to existing city residents before the extension of additional sewer and water service outside the city.

Franklin PCC steering committee member Pat Maier, who is from Carrabelle, said "Thank goodness, the voters will now have their chance at long last to vote on these measures. We welcome any residents who want to help us on these election campaigns."

Maier continued, "It's too bad the then majority of the City Commissioners allowed themselves to be led around by persons who we believe gave them bad advice and ultimately ended up costing the taxpayers more both in additional monies and time than if they had just gone ahead and scheduled the election after the signatures were originally gathered. We appreciate the Judge ordering these elections so that the public rather than development interests can make these important decisions."

Jeff Richardson, attorney for PCC and the citizen petitioners, said, "The decision by Judge Ferris is a victory for the citizens to control their own future and will result in the will of the people being expressed in an election. The right of the public to vote on questions they deemed to be of importance to themselves has been upheld by the Judge and we appreciate her scholarly decision affirming the citizen's right to govern themselves."

John Hedrick, Chair of PCC said "All that remains now is to have an election date set by agreement with the new city council. We expect that that will be easier with the exit of Curly Messer, the previous mayor, who lost in part because of his role in denying the citizens the right to vote on these issues. If no agreement is reached, we will ask the Judge to decide the issue."

He continued, "It is anticipated that the outcome of these referendums could have an immediate impact on two large projects of the St. Joe Company: their large acquisition of lands on Timber Island for either a potential marina or condominiums and their accessing water and sewer systems controlled by Carrabelle for their SummerCamp development. In the larger picture, this is our first major legal victory and it should have reverberations all across the Panhandle, particularly in locales where we have been campaigning for elections on petitions signed by the voters. This should give people faith everywhere that their efforts will make a difference and they will be able to make decisions which will directly affect their lives."

PCC also has a petition in Gulf County regarding the closing of scenic US 98, two in Port St. Joe regarding voluntary annexations and extension of sewer and water services, a petition in Sopchoppy on water service and 3 petitions on Panama City Beach regarding voluntary annexations, extention of sewer and water service, and imposition of height and density restrictions. PCC will be at the polls September 9th in Panama City Beach gathering signatures on its petitions there as well as for the proposed Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment.

PCC is a citizens organization comprised of approximately 100 local members and is supported in its efforts by other groups, including the Florida Consumer Action Network, that has 40,000 members statewide and who specifically supports the right of local citizens to make development decisions with initiatives. PCC's purpose is to provide citizen oversight of the development process to ensure fiscal, ethical, and environmental accountability and to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Florida Panhandle. PCC is a proud sponsor of the Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment petition.

7/7/03 update:  PANHANDLE CITIZENS COALITION (PCC) AND PETITIONERS FILE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION IN PANAMA CITY AIRPORT CASE; CARRABELLE REFUSES TO NEGOTIATE-JUDGE TO ISSUE RULINGS SHORTLY; PCC OPPOSES REDUCTION IN SIZE OF BAY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

PCC and the other petitioners in the Panama City airport case today asked Judge Glenn Hess to reconsider his decision and rule instead to schedule an election as soon as legally posible.

Art Stewart, one of PCC's leaders on the Airport Petition said:"The referendum definitely is a useful act, as through whatever potential outcome that occurs after it is passed, it would result in the Airport Authority scheduling an election on the airport at some point in time in the future. We just want that point in time to be immediate rather than be drawn out."

Judge Hess ruled the week before last that ordering the City of Panama City to conduct an election on PCC's petition would be a useless act and chose not to do it. The motion contends it is within the power of Panama City to immediately remove its appointees for cause should they not favor a vote on the airport and those replacements should make a vote on the airport happen right away.

Alvin Peters, attorney for PCC and the other petitioners, said, "The Court ruled in our favor on the main issue in question last time, whether the petition was constitutional, and there was little discussion of these other points. Now that we know where the Court is headed, we feel we have addressed these issues in such a manner that we trust the Court can now order an election so as to preserve the original intent of the petitioners."

The referendum would be on whether the voters in the City of Panama City will require its elected officials to instruct the Airport Authority to conduct a referendum on whether or not the Airport should be built before additional monies are spent. Should the Authority refuse, and those persons on the Authority the city can influence directly or indirectly are responsible, then the city is required to remove them and replace them with appointees who will favor a vote on the referendum; this includes the fifth member who is jointly selected between the city and county appointees.

PCC gathered over 2,700 signatures in Panama City to force the issue to the ballot but the entire City Council refused to conduct the election, thus resulting in this lawsuit. An unscientific poll on this referendum, which may be a more valid showing of people's intense feelings on the issue, showed a 57%-43% approval of the referendum, even after heavy lobbying by at least 2 area Chambers of Commerce and minimal efforts undertaken by PCC. Over 6,000 people throughout Bay County have signed petitions favoring a vote on the Airport. On the underlying issue of whether the Airport should be built or not, a scientific poll showed 46-36% against building the airport with the rest undecided or who didn't care. Bay County recently declined to schedule a referendum election by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Brock, Girvin and Gainer casting the deciding votes. Significantly, the new Airport Authority appointee of the County could favor a referendum on the airport, which elevates prospects for an immediate vote.

In the other court suit involving PCC, the City of Carrabelle has now rejected the advice of Judge Ferris and will now force the Judge to issue a ruling on whether the two petitions in Carrabelle (regarding sewer and water service being extended outside the city and repealng of a PUD ordinance which allowed unlimited heights) will go to the ballot as is.

PCC Steering Committee member Pat Maier said "This is typical of how the City and its attorney, Douglas Gaidry, have behaved towards us. They represent they will do one thing in court and then turn around and do something else."

Jeff Richardson, attorney for PCC and the other Petitioners, said "By Carrabelle's actions, the issues now have been put squarely for the decision of Judge Ferris, who had told the attorneys previously that she would issue a decision quickly. We now await those decisions which we hope will be favorable to us."

Finally, PCC announced its opposition to the recent move by the Bay County Commission to reduce the size of its Planning Commission to 5 members. PCC Steering Committee member Pete Rougier said"This move by the 3 members of the Commission, which just happens to be the 3 members who voted against having a referendum on the Airport, seems to have as its underlying aim the aiding of the development interests at the expense of the citizens of Bay County, who could be losing some of its most effective voices on the Planning Commission. We would urge Commissioners Brock, Gainer and Girvin to rethink their position and not take this hasty move, which undoes what a previous commission just did several years ago. Should these commissioners not change their minds, then we would urge the retention of Diane Brown and Barbara Miner as they have made the citizen's voice clearly heard as to have proper planning occur in Bay County."

The first reading of the ordinance on the revised Planning Commission is set for July 15th at the Bay County Commission meeting.

PCC is a citizens organization comprised of approximately 86 local members and is supported in its efforts by other groups, including the Florida Consumers Action Network, that has 40,000 members statewide and who specifically supports the right of local citizens to make development decisions with initiatives. PCC's purpose is to provide citizen oversight of the development process to ensure fiscal, ethical, and environmental accountability and to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Florida Panhandle.

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Panhandle Citizens Coalition Makes Progress In Panama City And Carrabelle Lawsuits; Assists With Upcoming June 12Th Bay Bcc Meeting On Airport; Collects 527 Signatures At The Port St. Joe Election; Criticizes St. Joe Company's Rummell For Private Meetings; PBS Show On Growth In The Panhandle Scheduled To Air June 6Th

Panhandle Citizens Coalition announced today that its lawsuits requiring citizen votes on different measures should be headed quickly to a conclusion in both Carrabelle and Panama City.