Argus's Robinson on Stormwater and City / County Interlocal Agreement
An email from Argus Foundation's Christine Robinson on the Stormwatr Managemetn Workshop urging the Board to focus on the issues and keep the city Interlocal Agreement:
Honorable Chair Joe Neunder and Honorable County Commissioners
Re: Termination of City of Sarasota Interlocal Agreement for Stormwater Management
Dear Honorable Chair Neunder and Honorable County Commissioners,
The Argus Foundation wishes to express its sincere appreciation for your leadership in establishing the special stormwater maintenance workshop prior to storm season. Your diligent efforts to manage the agenda on this critical issue and ensure public transparency in addressing questions are commendable. We particularly value the empathy you have demonstrated toward flood victims who remain concerned about the upcoming storm season.
We are grateful for your responsiveness to the diverse voices across the county advocating for public accountability regarding maintenance procedures.
However, we must respectfully express our strong objection to the inclusion of Item 3 on the agenda: "To consider Board policy guidance on notification to the City of Sarasota on the intent to terminate the Interlocal Agreement for Stormwater Management with the City of Sarasota, Contract 98-357 and subsequent amendments."
The commission specifically requested this workshop to address stormwater maintenance concerns. You clearly articulated your intention that this workshop focus exclusively on maintenance issues.
Item 3 extends well beyond the scope of maintenance to encompass basin planning, and numerous other considerations beyond the intended focus of this session.
This agenda item detracts from the essential maintenance discussion and is particularly ill-timed given both the imminent hurricane season and the ongoing leadership transition within city management. We strongly urge you to remove this item from the agenda to maintain the workshop's focus on maintenance policies and practices affecting both the city and county.
While we firmly oppose the inclusion of this item, we must also emphasize our position against terminating the stormwater management agreement with the City of Sarasota, for several compelling reasons:
First, stormwater flows transcend political boundaries. Consolidated management under a single entity, particularly in the northern county region, represents the most logical approach. This principle was acknowledged in the original 1990 agreement, which stated:
While we acknowledge certain challenges within the current agreement, these issues can and should be resolved collaboratively to benefit all residents-recognizing that city residents are also county citizens. We recommend directing county administration to address these concerns prior to considering agreement termination, with commission intervention if administrative efforts prove insufficient.
We recognize that the aging infrastructure and impervious surface challenges within the city differ significantly from those in the unincorporated county. Should city-specific challenges necessitate a separate stormwater district with adjusted fee structures, we would support such an approach. This would undoubtedly prove more cost-effective than establishing an entirely new department that duplicates county resources, personnel, equipment, and expertise.
We also recognize the development planning challenges that exist. These issues warrant thoughtful collaboration and formal documentation of solutions within the interlocal agreement. Termination should represent the absolute last resort rather than the initial response to these challenges.
We understand that dissolving the agreement might ease administrative burdens for staff still addressing maintenance backlogs following the 2024 storm events. However, the commission's primary obligation must be to the residents and businesses of both city and county, rather than to administrative convenience. County government serves as the representative entity for the entire area, and the integrated management of water flowing between jurisdictions should remain a county responsibility to ensure comprehensive protection for all constituents. The commission represents taxpayers, not government itself, and should prioritize resolving these issues rather than transferring responsibility during challenging periods.
May 20, 2025
Honorable Chair Joe Neunder and Honorable County Commissioners
Re: Termination of City of Sarasota Interlocal Agreement for Stormwater Management
Dear Honorable Chair Neunder and Honorable County Commissioners,
The Argus Foundation wishes to express its sincere appreciation for your leadership in establishing the special stormwater maintenance workshop prior to storm season. Your diligent efforts to manage the agenda on this critical issue and ensure public transparency in addressing questions are commendable. We particularly value the empathy you have demonstrated toward flood victims who remain concerned about the upcoming storm season.
We are grateful for your responsiveness to the diverse voices across the county advocating for public accountability regarding maintenance procedures.
However, we must respectfully express our strong objection to the inclusion of Item 3 on the agenda: "To consider Board policy guidance on notification to the City of Sarasota on the intent to terminate the Interlocal Agreement for Stormwater Management with the City of Sarasota, Contract 98-357 and subsequent amendments."
The commission specifically requested this workshop to address stormwater maintenance concerns. You clearly articulated your intention that this workshop focus exclusively on maintenance issues.
Item 3 extends well beyond the scope of maintenance to encompass basin planning, and numerous other considerations beyond the intended focus of this session.
This agenda item detracts from the essential maintenance discussion and is particularly ill-timed given both the imminent hurricane season and the ongoing leadership transition within city management. We strongly urge you to remove this item from the agenda to maintain the workshop's focus on maintenance policies and practices affecting both the city and county.
While we firmly oppose the inclusion of this item, we must also emphasize our position against terminating the stormwater management agreement with the City of Sarasota, for several compelling reasons:
First, stormwater flows transcend political boundaries. Consolidated management under a single entity, particularly in the northern county region, represents the most logical approach. This principle was acknowledged in the original 1990 agreement, which stated:
"WHEREAS, drainage basins overlap political boundaries, and intergovernmental cooperation is required to effectively manage stormwater runoff;"The agreement further recognized:
"WHEREAS, it is the mutual desire of the COUNTY and CITY to establish relationships and responsibilities for planning, control, operation, maintenance, and improvements to identified stormwater systems within the limits of the CITY in order to more efficiently and economically manage and coordinate the planning, operation, maintenance, and improvements to such systems."The Argus Foundation has consistently advocated for government consolidation to enhance efficient service delivery to taxpayers. Our community has successfully implemented this approach through the integration of 911 services and fire departments. Creating duplicate stormwater management departments divided by political boundaries defies operational logic and fiscal responsibility.
While we acknowledge certain challenges within the current agreement, these issues can and should be resolved collaboratively to benefit all residents-recognizing that city residents are also county citizens. We recommend directing county administration to address these concerns prior to considering agreement termination, with commission intervention if administrative efforts prove insufficient.
We recognize that the aging infrastructure and impervious surface challenges within the city differ significantly from those in the unincorporated county. Should city-specific challenges necessitate a separate stormwater district with adjusted fee structures, we would support such an approach. This would undoubtedly prove more cost-effective than establishing an entirely new department that duplicates county resources, personnel, equipment, and expertise.
We also recognize the development planning challenges that exist. These issues warrant thoughtful collaboration and formal documentation of solutions within the interlocal agreement. Termination should represent the absolute last resort rather than the initial response to these challenges.
We understand that dissolving the agreement might ease administrative burdens for staff still addressing maintenance backlogs following the 2024 storm events. However, the commission's primary obligation must be to the residents and businesses of both city and county, rather than to administrative convenience. County government serves as the representative entity for the entire area, and the integrated management of water flowing between jurisdictions should remain a county responsibility to ensure comprehensive protection for all constituents. The commission represents taxpayers, not government itself, and should prioritize resolving these issues rather than transferring responsibility during challenging periods.
Phone: 941.365.4886 | Website: www.argusfoundation.org P.O. Box 49361, Sarasota, FL 34230-6361
The Argus Foundation observations and recommendation make complete sense and I urge Commisioner Knight to promote them.
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