These are all the Blogs in the Guest Bloggers category.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Rick Magee provides facts to combat fantasy on ICLIE
GUEST COLUMN – by Rick Magee
Why Venice is a member of ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives)
A recent front-page article in the Gondolier Sun reported on three citizens who had submitted a petition with 79 names protesting Venice’s membership in a “United Nations-sponsored planning organization” that promotes sustainable development. The citizens, none of whom live in the City of Venice, were concerned that membership in ICLEI would eventually lead to the
Posted By Rick Magee at 12:59 PM
Friday, 17 July 2009
Marshall Happer Replies to E. Winston Wilmore correspondence
Dear Mr. Wilmore:
Thanks for your response and our apparent agreement on the legal issues involved in the Venice Jet Center matter may be a first for Venice, considering the deterioration in the level of recent discourse.
Neither of us is surprised at the political positions of the various members of the Venice City Council relative to the expansion or non-expansion of the Venice Airport. The Council members have made their political posit
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:19 PM
Monday, 23 March 2009
What is City's Position on Hangers--and more?
Dear Mayor Martin: I am still scratching my head. At last Tuesday’s meeting, Council voted to rejected a proposal advancing the permits of jet storage hangars on City property to the Nadel receivership. This was a reasonable decision because: 1) the receiver stated he had no intention of building hangars and he also stated that he had no assets for this purpose. And, 2) because the proposed hangars are shown in a part of the approved ALP that is not designated for storage hangars.
Posted By Tom Brener at 3:37 PM
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Lee Karr's views on Gondo editorial.
In a recent editorial the Gondolier called for apologies from a selected few of Venice’s officials. The editorial asked them to apologize for their violations of the Sunshine Law – which were unintentional.
Predictably, the editorial devoted several paragraphs to dancing around the serious difficulties that a number of City Council’s tormenters are experiencing with the law -- while conveniently ignoring the fact that had the searchlight been turned on any city in Flori
Posted By Lee Karr at 9:17 PM
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Lee Karr comments on current events at City Hall
It is on those relatively infrequent occasions during which Councilwoman Taylor chooses to speak out that the reason for her characteristic silence becomes evident; it is that her relatively rare utterances don’t seem to make a lot of sense.
She is, with her premeditated absence from the vote on the Sunshine settlement, engaged in showboating, and in trying to damage the reputations of the council’s majority through noxious and foundationless charges,
Posted By Lee Karr at 10:34 PM
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Sponge Bob disses my link to JP
concerned
Email: spongebob.smith7@gmail.com
Reply: Mayor,
Please tell me you are not affiliated with Jon patten or his ridiculous site. Why is there a link from your site? You should not lower yourself to his level!
Ed.Note It is common that websites link to each other, (builds readers). JP is bright, rude, quixotic, funny, ambivalent in his feelings toward the present writer, a good investigative reporter, (most of the time), unpredictabl
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:37 PM
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Tom Brenner, President of Venice Neighborhood Coalition weighs in on airport/comp plan development
Editor's Note: Tom Brenner sent this in as a comment on the comp plan article, but its complexity and topicality suggest that guest blog would be a more appropriate site for readers to notice his views.
Comments on the City’s Ongoing Review of the Comprehensive Plan, and suggested amendments regarding the Venice General Aviation Airport.
There exists a serious problem in the Comprehensive Plan (Draft) with respect to airport planning. Simply stated, airport pla
Posted By Tom Brenner at 9:54 PM
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Dumb Growth Decision by County Commissioners Shows Need for Super Majority
Super majority amendment would prevent dumb growth approvals like this by county commission yesterday
· Thanks to all those dedicated, concerned citizens and organizations who urged commissioners to vote down this massive, dumb growth Thomas Ranch expansion project.
· This vote shows that citizens need protection of super majority charter amendment.
· If people ask you why they should vote for super majority charter amendment, send t
Posted By Bill Earl at 11:07 AM
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Herald Trib Editorial Suggests Rethinking on Runway Length
Check the numbers
The long and the short of airport safety
Suddenly, a new idea has sprouted wings: Make the two runways at the Venice Municipal Airport shorter so they won't be suitable for jet traffic.
Airport Advisory Board member Jim Leis says he will ask the board to consider that idea. The board, which meets today, should study the proposal to determine whether it's the best way to ensure safe use of the airport, protect the environment and all
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:12 PM
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Council of Neighborhood Organizations writes County Commissioners: JPA and Bella Citta
Dear Commissioners:
We understand that you have scheduled a meeting with the Venice City Council to discuss several issues including application of the Joint Planning Agreement’s (JPA’s) neighborhood compatibility provision to the Bella Citta project. CONA President Ann Kaplan has asked that I write to thank you for initiating this process and ask that you continue to pursue the integrity of the mutually agreed JPA neighborhood compatibility protection for existing county ne
Posted By Bill Earl at 12:21 PM
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Venice, County to Meet on Planning Dispute
BY GERALD A. ROGOVIN CORRESPONDENT, Venice Gondolier Sun
Staff of the city of Venice and Sarasota County will meet Thursday to discuss how the two governments can resolve their dispute over the rezoning of the proposed Bella Citta development and their six-month-old joint planning agreement.
The meeting was scheduled originally in January so that both staffs could address how to coordinate their efforts and to review concerns about the Join
Posted By ed martin at 12:54 PM
Thursday, 7 June 2007
FAA Reply to Mike Rafferty
U.S. Departmentof Transportanon
Federal AviationAdministration
Orlando Airports District Offlce
5950 Hazeltine National Dr., Suite 400
Orlando, FL 32822-5024
Phone: 407-812-6331
June 5,2007
Mr. Michael E. Rafferty, P.E
Venice, FL 34285
Dear Mr. Rafferty:
RE: Venice Municipal Airport; Venice Florida
This letter is in response to your May 22, 2007 correspondence to this office regarding the
Airport Master Plan fo
Posted By Mike Rafferty at 8:25 PM
Friday, 25 May 2007
Rafferty Letter to FAA about Airport Issues
Mr. Rusty Chapman, Division Manager
FAA Southern Region
Attn: ASO-600
P O Box 20636
Atlanta, GA 30320-0631.
Re: Draft Master Plan Update, Venice Municipal Airport (VNC), Venice, Florida
Dear Rusty,
I am a retired Airport Design Consultant, a registered voter in the City of Venice, Florida, and a golfer.
I am writing to you to seek FAA assistance on two issues:
1) A confirmation that the Golf Course adjacent
Posted By Mike Rafferty at 3:59 PM
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Opposes Water Rate Increase, Seeks other cuts and support for costs of newly required water equipment for each home.
Dear Ms Depew- (Assistant City Clerk), Please enter the following comments in the record
I am submitting these comments for May 22nd public hearing on proposed water and sewer increases ordinance No 2007-28.
In reviewing the planned (approximately 30%) rate increase for water and sewer utilities I would like to suggest that an audit of necessary services and costs be performed in advance of any rate increase. I believe that City government bears a responsibility for the eff
Posted By Thomas Brener at 4:40 PM
Monday, 21 May 2007
CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL--ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
By Hugh Laubis, Venice First
Well if you want to lose sleep, I suggest you attend the next meeting on airport development. A few weeks ago I spent all day along with many others at city hall listening to five development teams sit there and tell their stories to our elite management team. The presentations which I am sure you have already read about ranged from ill prepared, to grandiose! No trouble keeping awake during these sessions as developers promise everything while council express relatively ridiculous
Posted By Hugh Laubis at 7:06 PM
