Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/97647
Sarasota News Leader December 7, 2012 When he pointed out that the municipalities would have an opportunity to see the report as soon as it was available, Robinson questioned why they would see it before the commission did. Page 35 "Current data is going to reflect lower [rates]," he told her. In response to further questioning, Davis said staff could work with homebuilders as well as other builders to determine whether any differ"The cities are advisory committees to the ent methodologies should be applied to develCounty Commission," Davis replied. However, op the rates. he said, he could provide a copy of the report to the commissioners before he sent it to the Asked to weigh in, County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh told the commissioners they could admunicipalities. vertise the proposed impact fees at the 100 per"I didn't mean to exasperate the County Com- cent level determined for 2013 or a percentage mission," Davis added. "This is the way we've of those levels. They would not be able to vote done it in the past and if we need to think about on higher rates than those advertised, however, doing it a different way, then we can." he said. "I had understood the municipalities were advisory to us in terms of how to spend the money, not to how to craft the ordinance," Patterson told him. We asked you to do [this] a couple of years ago after [Commission Chairwoman Christine Robinson] came on board … and nothing ever happened. … And here we are on Dec. 4 and you still The cities by law had to don't have enough information. "I believe we had the opportunity with private industry to get some better numbers," Robinson said. "We asked for that to happen and that did not happen." have the opportunity to Barbetta eventually Joe Barbetta comment on any promade the motion to adCommissioner posed changes in the vertise the rates at 68 Sarasota County county's impact fees, percent of the full 2013 Davis said. The City of levels staff had providSarasota was allowed up to 30 days for com- ed. When the board voted after the Jan. 16 pubments, while the City of Venice had two weeks, lic hearing, he continued, it could put into efhe noted. fect rates that were 50 percent of those reduced numbers, similar to the action the commission "I was unaware of that," Patterson said. took in 2011. "We're only here for an authorization to adver- "We have to give some kind of certainty to the tise," Barbetta pointed out. "Right now we're building industry out there," he added. utilizing the wrong figures." In the meantime, Barbetta said, Davis could Barbetta added that the commissioners could consult with representatives of all the building decide after the Jan. 16 public hearing what industries. percentage of the new figures they wanted to require of builders, "and I submit it's going to "It does make sense," Patterson said of Barbetbe lower than they are today." ta's recommendation; she seconded the motion. "So you're perfectly OK with [the rates] going "The industries can provide [comments] directlower than they are today?" Patterson asked him. ly to us by email," Robinson added. %