Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/281176
Mayor Shannon Snyder said he was personally afraid of the consequences of a local Pottinger- style lawsuit. "Make no mistake, Pottinger is breathing down our throats. I don't want to be exposed personally," he added. C o m m i s s i o n e r P a u l C a r a g i u l o , e c h o - ing remarks made previously by County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, said, "The [city] administration is fundamentally against hav- ing a shelter in the city limits. It should be put on the record. There is a sense of undermin- ing going on." Barbetta earlier had called it "sabotage." Chapman made a motion to allow the police to go forward with cleaning out the tent city. "I move we enforce the existing codes and ordinances [even] if that requires relocation of people and follows the guidelines the city attorney feels is compliant with the Pottinger protocol." Shaw seconded the motion, but it failed 2-3. Said Fournier, "You're just delaying action right now." City Manager Tom Barwin asked for clarity. "The motion is for this site only?" Fournier replied that that was his understanding. The failure of the motion had meant the City Commission suddenly was giving direction to not enforce the city's codes and ordinances. "And if we go from 10 or 11 to 20, 30, 40 or 50 [people] at this site?" asked Barwin. Police Chief Bernadette DiPino said, "Not enforcing the ordinances at this location, it's going to attract a lot more people. Allow us to continue moving forward with this. If not, you'll have people see this as a kind of free zone, and you'll see a lot more people there." In the meantime, DiPino is getting shuffled around in her efforts to handle the situation, and the City Commission was not help- ing. "We called Dr. Marbut, who said to call [County Homelessness Coordinator Wayne] Applebee, who referred us to the Sheriff's Office, and they said there would be a train- ing about two weeks before the new [shelter] facility opens," she said. "We get complaints every single day about individuals. We need to move forward." Barwin, too, found deaf ears. "Is the city giv- ing permission to lodge on this site? We need some clarity here," he repeated. But he did not get any. By this time, the commission had been meet- ing for four and one-half hours straight with no break. Chapman then moved to instruct staff to call Marbut and ask how the city should handle public safety in homeless camps. Shaw seconded that, and the motion passed 5-0. Snyder slammed down the gavel and the meeting was adjourned. Staff members immediately huddled then, and in the days afterward, it still has been trying to discern what direction it had received. Some sug- gested the City Commission had created a "free zone" in the bamboo thicket for the homeless and vagrants who cannot or will not be accepted at The Salvation Army. The following day, the Sarasota County com- missioners figuratively picked up their verbal cudgels and the beatings continued. (See the related story in this issue.) % Sarasota News Leader March 21, 2014 Page 36