Red Tide - Thanks for the great question, I'll be happy to respond with as much as I know, which admittedly from a scientific point of view is not a lot. First, I don't know of anyone at City Hall that isn't extremely concerned about the issue of red tide and not only the immediate discomfort and inconvenience it causes but also the potential for longer term environmental and economic harm, as the problem seems to get worse by the year. The big question becomes, what exactly to do? I'm not a marine biologist, and will be glad if someone more knowledgeable than I will correct me if necessary, but as far as I know there has been no definitive cause and effect relationship established between anything and red tide outbreaks.
The City Commission actually discussed this issue at a recent commission meeting, and decided to take a two-pronged approach. First Commissioner Palmer suggested that we consider stronger environmental regulation regarding pesticides, herbicides, and other potential pollutant or nutrient-rich runoff byproducts both locally and statewide, and the others agreed. Secondly, the commission agreed to make greater funding of related research something they will ask the state legislature to support this year as part of what we call our legislative agenda. Answering that cause-and-effect question is huge.
I hope this helps answer the question about what the city is doing about this alarming problem. I hope others who might be more expert and have suggestions will feel free to post as well.
The City Commission actually discussed this issue at a recent commission meeting, and decided to take a two-pronged approach. First Commissioner Palmer suggested that we consider stronger environmental regulation regarding pesticides, herbicides, and other potential pollutant or nutrient-rich runoff byproducts both locally and statewide, and the others agreed. Secondly, the commission agreed to make greater funding of related research something they will ask the state legislature to support this year as part of what we call our legislative agenda. Answering that cause-and-effect question is huge.
I hope this helps answer the question about what the city is doing about this alarming problem. I hope others who might be more expert and have suggestions will feel free to post as well.
posted by Michael McNees at 10:13 PM
14 Comments:
I'm not a bio-scientist either, but I can tell you red tide has been a feature along this coast - and many others worldwide - for centuries, if not millenia.
One friend who grew up on Anna Maria Island remembers a red tide outbreak lasting 18 months, so we are nowhere near a record at present.
While linkage to pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers may be glib (and I too favor banning them, while issuing machetes to new residents instead), it is not supported by history. Spanish explorers complained of red tide. Native Floridians (Caloosa and others) told them it was an age-old problem...and they would have known, living in a culture sustained by finfish and shellfish.
So all this talk of phosphate runoff, agricultural runoff, green-grass-promoting runoff is not red-tide specific. WIthout question it causes other environmental and ecologic problems, but cannot be linked to our ages-old scourge of red tide.
The red tide has been awful. I have done some research into this but I really do not know much. It seems red tide has been happening for a really long time, through history. I do think there are things that we do as humans is not good for our environment on many levels. We should be looking at ways to improve how we treat our planet not just because of red tide but because we want to preserve our planet. Red tide just hits us so in the face that we all gather and yell to someone to "fix" it but in reality, nobody can fix it. We can be smart about the things we do and that should be the conversation.
The red tide is not caused by all the things people are saying and I agree completely with the last post. We have to find ways to be better stewards of our planet in general. I am not sure how the city is suppose to fix individual irresponsible people but maybe all of us together can be more careful with what we do.
Wow - this is great! Why does the public not know that the commission took these steps? Who is responsible to let the public hear about this since this has been a huge subject and would help ease alot of peoples worry the city is not doing anything.
Mike, it's been a week since you've said anything here. Can I presume you've given up on us?
And by the way, weeks ago I asked for mean or median city employee salaries. Twice you've promised to answer my question, but so far...nada.
When I set sail for a foreign port, I anticipate arrival. I don't anticipate sinking mid-way. Are you still with us?
The Red Tide has been bad and thank you for addressing some issues the city is looking into. Is there a way that the city can work with the different neighborhoods and get the word out about suggestions to homeowners, possibly in some form letter. Possibly throught the Neighborhood Department because they have massive mailing lists of the contacts for neighborhoods. Then if the leaders of the neighborhoods received the notice they could distribute to their members and this could get the ball rolling.
I thank you for staying on top of the issues we face and being as open as you have been. I look forward to reading the posts and comments you write and the input from others. You are doing a great job and you are greatly appreciated in this city. I do not expect any response in a time that is convenient to me because I know you must be a very busy man. Just making this available is wonderful and when you can respond, it is greatly appreciated.
Stan Z. - Here are your numbers, including the city's recent general wage adjustment: The average current salary for all employees is $40,717 including longevity pay for those to whom it applies.
Within that group, the current average base salary of PBA represented employees, primarily our sworn officers, including specialty pays and shift differentials is $53,166. This is around 25% of the workforce, so the average for general employees alone would be less than the $40K number.
And no, I didn't sink. Just took a few days off!
Regardless of the scientific research on red tide, the City has long planned to hire an "Environmental Coordinator / Liaison." This was a strategic plan item going back a number of years. We have a "Grants Coordinator" which was a similar strategic plan item, but no committment to staff who could help to create a more coherent set of City policies on environmental issues like red tide, sewage spills, seagrass destruction, etc. When the City updates the Environmental Protection Chapter of the Sarasota City plan, a Environmental Coordinator could be the catalyst for some real change in City policy - especially in terms of Barrier Island issues.
Mike: thank you for the providing the salary numbers. With that info, I was able to calculate affordable housing for the average city employee. Most folks don’t like numbers, but you’re a numbers guy and a homeowner, so you can follow this. It’s the kind of kitchen-table math city employees must do if they want to buy a home.
Average annual salary: $40K
Average annual spendable (real) income (salary minus federal income tax, Social Security, medical plan, sales tax etc): $30,000
Average monthly real (spendable) income: $2,500
Assume one-third for monthly mortgage: $825
Mortgage includes principal, interest, property tax and insurance (PITI), so
Assume 20% goes to property tax and insurance ($165). leaving $660 available for mortgage principal and interest.
The $660 principal-and-interest payment will service a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at 5.6% interest for a total loan of $115,000.
The $115,000 figure is roughly half the average price of a home in Sarasota County today.
I’m sure you realize the liberal application of assumption s:
a. Only 25% difference between salary and real income.
b. One-third of real income devoted to servicing PITI.
c. Only 20% goes to “TI,” an increasingly low figure.
d. 5.6% interest is a low figure today, and 6% is likely soon.
To afford an average-priced home in Sarasota County, the average city worker’s wage would have to double. If you are considering putting public monies into affordable housing, this would be one approach.
The same figures apply to folks working in the private sector as well. The situation will be further compounded by rising energy costs, rising mortgage rates, and rising taxes . To say nothing of inflation.
The choices are stark: it is doubtful your masters will raise city employee salaries significantly; demanding a higher fraction of real income be devoted to housing is a cruel choice for families; and cutting taxes does not appear to be an option.
While there is the beginning of a substantive debate about “affordable housing” in the city, it does not influence the bottom-line, kitchen-table economics of wage-earners.
Stan Zimmerman
Most general employees earn $20,000--$28,000 per year. That is the stark reality. Most employees I know are working 2 jobs. It is a shame.
I do not work for the city,I work for a store on Main Street and only make 10 dollars an hour and still afford to own a condo downtown. But I am also over 50 and have worked to save to get to the place I am now. When I was in my 20's or 30's there was no way I could ever afford to live downtown and never really felt it was my right or the governments responsibility to give me that. The people that work downtown Manhattan do not live in the area they usually work, they take the bus or train. There is alot of livable places outside the city and yes, you may have to take a bus.
I copied this over from another comment section.
For those of you who are interested in the Red Tide issue, this will be of interest.
Red Tide and the Growing Dead Zone:
Will they ever go away?
The Sarasota Green Party is pleased to welcome marine biologist and water quality expert Dr. Larry Brand, along with local charter boat captain Wayne Genthner, to our October public forum.
Tuesday, October 25
7:30 pm
Fruitville Public Library
(just east of I-75 at the Fruitville exit)
Dr. Brand holds a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution jointly with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. He?ll be discussing his findings with regard to a number of research projects, including Piney Point water quality (where the State of Florida released millions of gallons of treated phosphate waste), and the results of his analysis of water samples collected over the last 50 years.
Captain Wayne has been fishing Sarasota and Manatee waters for 25 years, and his first-hand observations and tireless advocacy have been instrumental in raising awareness about the recent and dramatic deterioration of water quality in the Gulf.
There will be a Q&A session after their presentations.
Everyone is welcome to attend and there's no cost for the event.
12/10/05 8:20 AM
Stan, you forgot the down payment. Let’s say for the sake of argument that it’s 10%. That’s $11,500. Divide $11,500 : $825 = + 14 months of saving (if one had no rent to pay). Let’s take a low figure like $600 a month for rent (remember that with rent there are no tax deductions). That leaves $225 a month to put into savings for the down payment for a mortgage. With that amount of savings it would take + 51 months or 4.25 years to save $11,500 for a down payment. Since housing prices are rising annually, one might be chasing a ghost that one will never catch. I’d also be interested to see what kind of hovel one can purchase in Sarasota County for $115,000.
"There is a cure for red tide". I have already received a U.S. Patent for the dispensing apparatus, and have patent pending on the red tide killing formula.
Hopefully the 2007 Florida legislature will recognize the economic damage caused by red tide to Florida's southwest coast, starting first with tourism and now spread to home and other real estate sales, not to mention the loss to marine activities and other related business.
Who wants to spend 2 or 3 thousand dollars to spend a week in a beach condo, and be told to stay inside, or lay on a beach with hundreds of dead fish, or risk children stepping on exposed fish bones.
We have become use to living with red tide, but visitors are very alarmed to find dead fish and the stench of rotting fish, when they expect pristine waters and nice sandy beaches as the visitors guide tells them.
Millions of dollars have gone into research. It's time to start killing red tide before it becomes worse.
Only your elected representatives can act.
Bob Rigby
Nokomis
941-488-5610
Post a Comment
<< Home