Email seeking action from Sarasota Board to understand Debby impacts

An email sent to the Sarasota County Commission from the creator of the Petition asking the County to seriously study the causes of the impacts of Hurricane Debby on neighborhoods in Sarasota.

Subject: Petition Proposal

Date: August 28, 2024 at 11:10:31 AM EDT

To: Michael Moran <mmoran@scgov.net>, Joe Neunder <jneunder@scgov.net>, Mark Smith <mhsmith@scgov.net>, Neil Rainford <nrainford@scgov.net>, Ron Cutsinger <rcutsinger@scgov.net>, Planner <planner@scgov.net>

Dear Commissioners, 

As you deliberate on all that was said yesterday, today and read the petition I gave to you, keeping in mind your allegiance to our Comprehensive Plan and the health, safety and sustainability of our community, please incorporate the 3 reasonable stated requests.  If you need more fuel in your minds, take a look at comments on the petition with over 1300 now signed including paper signatures of neighbors, friends and certainly tax payers.  There is precedent for modifications to building and engineering plans. 

 Truly, our Debby experience is not solely about cleaning up.  There are questions to be answered and actions to be taken to prevent another disastrous occurrence.   

Yesterday the public works representative indicated they would be hiring a “third party” to do analysis.  This “third party” could fit well with the petition request for an objective hydrologist analysis.  The potential impacts of further development in vulnerable areas must be taken into consideration.  I know we will all be interested in your After Action Review which, where I worked, was a very comprehensive Incident Report with a heavy emphasis on steps taken to prevent further occurrence.  Those steps happening is sitting on your shoulders.  With now 1300 signers on the petition, they are not going to forget your actions or lack there of, when the next flood happens.   

The requested hydrology report will address needed modifications to engineering and development plans.  I get it that folks working in the local building industry can’t wait for the completion of a comprehensive hydrological analysis as particularly the hands on folks need their routine pay check.  However, the door should remain open for needed modifications.  I hope you have all learned the importance of maintaining watersheds. 

They are truly our savior in preventing us from becoming a swamp.

I can’t say enough about having a clear comprehensive program surrounding waste water spillage and public notifications. Yet another of my friends, a doctor, picked up an infection in our waters.   

Please do what you need to do to accommodate HB165 but be sure to have a public awareness component that includes, ongoing routine testing and retesting and posted results including obvious signs, flags or other at the beaches.  All of this while more effort is made to reduce these spillages. 

Lastly as a show that you are listening to the concerns of the community and there is transparency in your efforts, please initiate a Citizens Advisory Committee around the three petition issues.  An initial town hall is also recommended to get the initial community questions out in the open. 

These are reasonable and responsible recommendations by your friends, neighbors and taxpayers and much fits into what your departments already indicated they are doing.  Let’s combine these efforts to meet the needs.  A response to this email would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Vicki Nighswander MAT, MPH