Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/218481
Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 33 for the various actors," he writes. "We have been tasked with bringing new ideas to light and making recommendations that benefit all stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of generating development that keeps Sarasota County economically attractive and vibrant, promotes the wise use of limited public resources, and respects the beautiful natural setting that is found in this most special place." July 9: The County Commission meets and votes to reject Reid's proposal to bring in Chapin to review fiscal neutrality. "I don't want an academic," Barbetta says. "I don't want a team of people coming in here who don't know anything about 2050." He suggests three potential economists as alternatives: University of Florida economist David Denslow; the director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness, Sean Snaith; and Arduin. July 11: Reid emails county Planners Allen Parsons and Tom Polk and Assistant County Attorney Mark Cunningham to let them know he has spoken to Arduin. "She wants us to know she has only a BA in economics so does not want the mantle of economist but her partners would be certainly recognized as leading economist," he writes. "The contract would be with the firm (nashville) but she would see herself as our project manager. She would like to be assured we would provide substantial local planning assistance in understanding laws currently in affect. Her firm and Laffer is clearly supply side and oriented free market economics, frequent speaker for chambers." Former County Administrator Randall Reid reviews agenda material. File photo "Both Denslow and Sean" — who later drop out of consideration for the project — "have less political involvement," he writes. July 19: Cunningham emails Arduin with a draft version of the county's scope of services. The draft asks for Laffer to review and analyze the feasibility of fiscal neutrality, as well as rules for the timing of reports. There is no mention of a request for a big-picture analysis of smart growth or New Urbanism. The term "supply-side" does not appear. July 20: Arduin responds to Cunningham: "We are working on a scope that is economics focused." July 22: Arduin emails Cunningham with Laffer's proposed scope of services. It calls for Laffer to provide "a literature review on