St. Armands BID renewal stumbling out of the gate

Tensions over the makeup of the business improvement district board cloud the election to extend special tax district extension.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

As its Sept. 30 sunset approaches, the St. Armands Business Improvement District renewal is mired in controversy on multiple fronts.

The first-round attempt at securing enough votes from landowners in the district fell shy of the requisite majority needed to renew the special tax district for another 10 years. That requires the process to start again with a second petition for another round of voting, which was received by the City Commission on Monday.

Renewal is not determined by a majority of votes, but rather a majority of the votes weighted by the assessed tax value of the properties. In theory, an owner of a building comprising 50.1% of the overall assessed value of all the properties there — if there was such a property — could approve renewal with a single vote.

With more than enough property owners’ signatures needed to hold another election, BID Chairman Tom Leonard said the renewal effort is buffeted by headwinds from some building owners, claiming the extra tax is not producing projects that enhance revenue for landlords and merchants around the circle.

That matter became conflated with a later Monday discussion over filling two vacant seats on the fivemember BID board, during which Leonard called St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia “a liar” after he endorsed one of the candidates and commented that the BID has recently skipped voluntary joint meetings with the residents and merchants association groups.

Goglia and current BID board member Casey Gonzmart endorsed St. Armands Circle Association

Executive Director Rachel Burns for one of the seats. Burns, who heads the organization of St. Armands merchants, and Leonard butted heads this past year over his initiative to hold the first Winter Spectacular to highlight the new $286,000 Christmas tree, courtesy of a city grant, in the Circle park. That forced her, she said, to cancel some longstanding December events there.

Adding to the controversy, Burns later canceled the 44th annual tree lighting ceremony, which historically had been the purview of the Circle Association. The city reinstated the tree lighting. Burns said she didn’t vote to renew the BID and said why.

“It is a hefty voluntary tax on every property and every merchant, and I do not believe that based on current spending decisions that the board is showing fiduciary responsibility,” she said. “St. Armands Circle has an opportunity to improve the infrastructure and guest experience to increase tourism and revenue generated. It’s simple economics. The BID has a lot of tax dollars, but their spending is not generating income.”

Although Ahearn-Koch supported Burns because of her “serious financial banking background that is badly needed at the BID board,” that rankled Leonard and Mayor Kyle Battie.

“I hope that anybody who applies to be on the BID board, by the way, does support the BID,” Leonard said. “If you’re not voting for us to be renewed and then you want be on the board, you’re kind of contradicting yourself.”

Battie added, “It’s like canceling Christmas, and then you want to be on the board. I’m sorry. I take issue with that and that was huge in my book in terms of not being eligible.”

Burns’ application for the BID board faced further scrutiny from city staff, which categorized her as an owner-merchant because her husband’s business is a tenant there.

The board already has its maximum number of owner-merchants.

Although Burns insists their entities are separate businesses with no cross-ownership, Vice Chairman Liz Alpert and Commissioner Erik Arroyo agreed with staff’s assessment. Ultimately, commissioners voted 4-1, with Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed, to delay filling the two vacant seats on the BID board until the special district is renewed, if it is at all. In the interim, City Attorney Robert Fournier told commissioners they could, if they so choose, craft an ordinance to change the makeup of the BID board to accommodate more owner-merchants.

BID RENEWAL Prior to the BID board vacancies discussion, Leonard said the renewal process is being challenged by perceptions of some property owners that they aren’t getting their money’s worth for the additional property taxes they pay. He cited a 2008 master plan for St. Armands, of which he said only one project, the parking deck, has been accomplished.

PANTS ON FIRE?

“We built a parking garage that we pay for part of it,” he said. “As far as I know, no other private organizations ever had to pay for a garage, but yet we have no say when it comes to income or optimizing the parking revenues or controlling expenses.”

Goals of the BID also occasionally meet opposition from St. Armands residents, Leonard suggested, sometimes leading to conflicts before the City Commission and staff. Master plan elements not developed include public restrooms, “complete street” redesign and a small grocery store on the Circle, among others.

Now that the petition has been certified by staff and received by the commission, the minimum 120day voting process, per state statue, begins. Ballots will be mailed to all property owners within the BID and voting will continue through Aug. 7. It may be continued if necessary should approval fall short and not all ballots are received.

During Monday’s City Commission hearing about the St. Armands Business Improvement District board vacancies, BID Chairman Tom Leonard and St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia engaged in a heated exchange.

“For the 20 years the BID has existed, the BID, the merchants association and the residents association have met monthly or every other month to talk about issues that affect us all,” Goglia said. “Over the last several months a representative from the BID has not attended these meetings of residents, merchants and property owners. I’m not sure why that is. We’d like to continue to work together. I think it’s because of disagreements, but I’d like to continue talking about those so that the arguments don’t leak over into the public.”

Leaked into the public, it did.

“Chris, you’re sitting here lying and it’s a shame,” Leonard responded. “My name is slandered. He’s a liar, and he’s lying in front of me.”

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Town of Longboat Key ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS

Town of Longboat Key ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS

The Town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for appointment following boards:

The Town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for appointment following boards:

The Town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for appointment to the following boards:

Citizens Tax Oversight Committee

Citizens Tax Oversight Committee

Citizens Tax Oversight Committee

Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees

Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees

Planning and Zoning Board

Planning and Zoning Board

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees Planning and Zoning Board Zoning Board of Adjustment

Zoning Board of Adjustment

All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on April 20, 2023. All applicants must be registered voters of the Town of Longboat Key. Late applications may not be accepted.

All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk p.m. on April 20, 2023. All applicants must be registered voters of Longboat Key. Late applications may not be accepted.

All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town p.m. on April 20, 2023. All applicants must be registered voters Longboat Key. Late applications may not be accepted.

All members of the Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees, Planning and Zoning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment are required to file a financial disclosure form within 30 days after appointment and annually thereafter for the duration of the appointment as required by Florida Statues Chapter 112.

All members of the Consolidated Retirement System Board Planning and Zoning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment are file a financial disclosure form within 30 days after appointment and thereafter for the duration of the appointment as required by Florida Chapter 112.

All members of the Consolidated Retirement System Board Planning and Zoning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment file a financial disclosure form within 30 days after appointment thereafter for the duration of the appointment as required by Chapter 112.

The Town Commission may schedule a Meet and Greet with applicants at a later date. Please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 941-316-1999 to request an application or for any questions. Applications are also available online at: www.longboatkey.org. Completed applications may be submitted to:

The Town Commission may schedule a Meet and Greet with later date Please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 941 -316 an application or for any questions. Applications are also available www.longboatkey.org Completed applications may be submitted

Town of Longboat Key – Office of the Town Clerk

The Town Commission may schedule a Meet and Greet with applicants later date Please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 941 -316-1999 an application or for any questions. Applications are also available www.longboatkey.org Completed applications may be submitted to: Town of Longboat Key – Office of the Town Clerk

501 Bay Isles Road

Longboat Key FL 34228

501 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key FL 34228

Stephanie Janney, Administrative Assistant

Stephanie Janney, Administrative Assistant