Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/147897
Sarasota News Leader August 2, 2013 Page 88 Siesta Seen ida Department of Environmental Protection regarding the owner's hiring of a person with a tractor to mow in the dunes and sea oats, to widen the path illegally, as that "demonstrates a lack of his compliance [with] DEP regulations for the coastal environments." Bob Luckner had reiterated in a July 17 email to the property owner that the latter had asked "to be informed when we discovered a nest and to have a point contact to find out the status of Beach Nesting birds on [his] property. It is our policy to contact homeowners before buffering private property and now that we know how to reach you we commit to do that. I should be your contact if you have questions." YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOLF CARTS During an early May County Commission discussion of a petition to allow golf carts to travel regularly on a portion of South Midnight Pass Road, the board members asked Paula Wiggins, the county's transportation planning manager, to organize public meetings on Siesta Key to determine the prevailing opinion about the use on the island of those vehicles and others that move at low speeds. The board is expected to address the issue again after receiving that public feedback. Wiggins told me on July 30 that she has scheduled a public meeting at Siesta Key Chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20, to hear Bob Luckner added in his email, "I would ask residents' views. you to consider the buffers as a way to warn you, your guests and others of the presence She expects county staff to start distributing of Beach Nesting Birds and the fact that there flyers about the meeting by Aug. 5, she said. is a significant penalty for disturbing Beach Additionally, Wiggins told me, the county's InNesting Birds." formation Technology and Communications Further, Bob Luckner advised the man to staffs are preparing an online survey that peowatch the video of the April 2011 County Com- ple may take on the matter. mission meeting when the board approved the construction variance for the property: "Your Wiggins is also working with the Siesta Key attorney, William Merrill, committed to the Association to help get out the word about the [County Commission] as a condition of your meeting and the survey, she added. permit, that all buffering for Beach Nesting birds was henceforth pre-approved and that Further, staff will determine whether the you would not use a tractor to rake, remove County Commission would like to see a vegetation or grade the sand [hand raking is second meeting scheduled after seasonal permitted] in the [conservation easement] or people begin to return to the key this fall, Wiggins said. % along the existing path."